Chronic stress and temporalis muscle activity in TMD patients and controls during sleep: a pilot study in females

The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between chronic stress and temporalis muscle activity during four nights. Forty-four female subjects were recruited in five dental practices located in different areas of the federal state of Saarland, Germany (dental practice network in Saarland). The following inclusion criteria were used: female, aged between 18 and 65, no somatization or depression, and no pain medication, graded chronic pain status