{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,7]],"date-time":"2026-07-07T23:31:59Z","timestamp":1783467119229,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,1,8]],"date-time":"2021-01-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1610064000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Facial anatomical structures are not easily accessible to manual palpation. The aim of our study is to objectively assess temporomandibular joint and perimandibular muscles dimensions by means of sonographic measurements before and after dry needling (DN) in asymptomatic subjects. Seventeen subjects participated in this before-after study with a within-subject control. After random allocation, one side of the face was used for the intervention and the contralateral as control. DN was performed on the temporal, masseter, and sternocleidomastoid muscles. Each subject was examined bilaterally before, immediately after, and one month after the intervention through Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging (RUSI) of the temporomandibular articular disc and the three target muscles. Maximum mouth opening was measured at baseline and at one month. After a single DN session, articular disc thickness significantly decreased; muscles\u2019 thicknesses (except for temporal thickness) significantly decreased immediately and at follow-up on the treated side; no significant changes resulted for the control side. The maximum mouth opening increased from 4.77 mm to 4.86 mm. RUSI may be useful to assess the dimensions and thickness of the temporomandibular disc and muscles before and after an intervention. DN influences muscle morphology, and it has a positive influence on mouth opening in the short term.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm10020209","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,1,10]],"date-time":"2021-01-10T19:55:56Z","timestamp":1610308556000},"page":"209","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Short-Term Morphological Changes in Asymptomatic Perimandibular Muscles after Dry Needling Assessed with Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging: A Proof-of-Concept Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"10","author":[{"given":"Alice","family":"Botticchio","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Poliambulatorio Physio Power, 25124 Brescia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8981-2085","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Firas","family":"Mourad","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Poliambulatorio Physio Power, 25124 Brescia, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Clinical Science and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Roma, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Physiotherapy, LUNEX International University of Health, Exercise and Sports, 4671 Differdange, Luxembourg"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2893-1627","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Samuel","family":"Fern\u00e1ndez-Carnero","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Physical Therapy Department, Alcal\u00e1 de Henares University, 28801 Alcal\u00e1 de Henares, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8548-4427","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jos\u00e9 Luis","family":"Arias-Bur\u00eda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorc\u00f3n, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alejandro","family":"Santodomingo Bueno","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Cl\u00ednica Physed S.Coop., 28051 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Juan","family":"Mesa Jim\u00e9nez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, CEU San-Pablo University, 28668 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Massimiliano","family":"Gobbo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Clinical Integrative Physiology, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,1,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.11607\/jop.1151","article-title":"Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC\/TMD) for clinical and research applications: Recommendations of the international RDC\/TMD consortium Network and orofacial pain special interest group","volume":"28","author":"Schiffman","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. 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