Interconnectedness of TMD and overall health represented by face emerging from roots and branches.

Is Your Body Trying to Tell You Something? The Hidden Link Between TMD and Overall Health

Elliot Brynn in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"Understanding self-rated health (SRH) as an indicator for Myofascial Temporomandibular Disorders (mTMD) and chronic pain management."

In the quest to understand and manage chronic pain, particularly conditions like temporomandibular disorders (TMD), researchers are constantly seeking simple yet effective tools. Enter self-rated health (SRH), a single-item measure where you assess your overall health on a scale, typically from poor to excellent. While it sounds straightforward, SRH has emerged as a surprisingly powerful predictor of morbidity and mortality across various populations.

But how does SRH relate to chronic pain, and specifically TMD? A recent study published in the Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache sheds light on this connection, revealing that SRH can be a valuable indicator of health in individuals with myofascial TMD (mTMD), a common subtype of TMD characterized by muscle pain.

This article breaks down the study's findings, exploring how SRH can help bridge the gap in understanding the complex interplay between pain, mental health, and physical function in individuals with mTMD. We will discuss practical implications for managing chronic pain and improving overall well-being.

Unlocking the Power of Self-Rated Health: What the Research Reveals

Interconnectedness of TMD and overall health represented by face emerging from roots and branches.

The study, conducted by Vivian Santiago, PhD, and Karen Raphael, PhD, aimed to investigate the utility of SRH in women with mTMD. Researchers compared SRH scores between women with mTMD and a demographically similar control group, examining the roles of pain, mental health, and physical function in mediating these differences.

Here's a breakdown of the key methods and findings:

Participants: 125 women with mTMD and 49 demographically similar controls.
SRH Measurement: A single-item question with five answer options ranging from poor (1) to excellent (5).
Other Measures: Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) to assess bodily pain, mental health, and physical function.
Key Finding: Women with mTMD reported significantly poorer SRH compared to controls.

The study revealed that bodily pain was a major factor driving the lower SRH scores in the mTMD group. In fact, bodily pain fully mediated the association between mTMD and SRH, suggesting that the pain experience is a primary determinant of how these individuals perceive their overall health. Physical function also played a significant role, partially mediating the association. Mental health, while important, had a less pronounced impact on SRH in this study.

Taking Control of Your Health: The Role of Self-Awareness

The findings underscore the importance of considering SRH as a valuable tool in mTMD research and clinical practice. It provides a simple and efficient way to discriminate between cases and controls, offering insights into the impact of pain and physical function on overall health perception. By recognizing the connection between chronic pain and SRH, individuals can take a more proactive approach to managing their condition and improving their overall well-being.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.11607/ofph.2045, Alternate LINK

Title: Single-Item, Self-Rated Health Is A Useful Indicator Of Health In Myofascial Temporomandibular Disorders

Subject: Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

Journal: Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache

Publisher: Quintessence Publishing

Authors: Vivian Santiago, Karen Raphael

Published: 2019-07-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is Self-Rated Health (SRH), and how is it relevant to understanding overall well-being?

Self-Rated Health (SRH) is a single-item measure where individuals assess their overall health on a scale, typically from poor to excellent. It has been shown to be a surprisingly powerful predictor of morbidity and mortality across various populations. It acts as a simple, efficient way to discriminate between cases and controls, offering insights into the impact of pain and physical function on overall health perception. While SRH can indicate general well-being, it doesn't replace specific diagnostic tests for conditions like Myofascial Temporomandibular Disorders (mTMD).

What were the key findings of the study regarding Self-Rated Health (SRH) in women with Myofascial Temporomandibular Disorders (mTMD)?

In the study, women with Myofascial Temporomandibular Disorders (mTMD) reported significantly poorer Self-Rated Health (SRH) compared to the control group. Bodily pain was identified as a major factor driving the lower SRH scores, fully mediating the association between mTMD and SRH. Physical function also played a significant role, partially mediating the association, while mental health had a less pronounced impact on SRH in this particular study. This highlights the importance of addressing physical pain in Myofascial Temporomandibular Disorders (mTMD) to improve a patient's perception of their overall health.

Besides Self-Rated Health (SRH), what other tools, like the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), were used in the study to assess factors influencing health?

The study utilized the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) to assess bodily pain, mental health, and physical function in participants. This survey is a widely used tool for evaluating various aspects of health-related quality of life. Using Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) alongside Self-Rated Health (SRH) provides a more holistic understanding of the factors influencing health perception, though it does not cover specific areas like sleep quality or social support, which could also impact well-being in individuals with Myofascial Temporomandibular Disorders (mTMD).

Can individuals improve their overall well-being and manage Myofascial Temporomandibular Disorders (mTMD) by being aware of their Self-Rated Health (SRH)?

Yes, recognizing the connection between chronic pain, such as that experienced with Myofascial Temporomandibular Disorders (mTMD), and Self-Rated Health (SRH), individuals can take a more proactive approach to managing their condition. This involves not only seeking medical treatment for the pain but also addressing the physical and mental factors that contribute to their overall health perception. For instance, physical therapy to improve physical function, pain management techniques, and mental health support can all contribute to improving SRH. Further research is needed to determine if improving SRH directly improves outcomes for people with Myofascial Temporomandibular Disorders (mTMD).

Are there any limitations to the study's findings regarding Self-Rated Health (SRH) and Myofascial Temporomandibular Disorders (mTMD) that should be considered?

The study focused on women with Myofascial Temporomandibular Disorders (mTMD) compared to a control group, so the findings may not be directly generalizable to men or individuals with other types of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD). The study also used a single-item Self-Rated Health (SRH) measure and the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), which provides a broad overview of health but may not capture all relevant factors influencing the health perception of individuals with Myofascial Temporomandibular Disorders (mTMD). Future research could explore the role of other factors, such as social support, sleep quality, and specific Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) symptoms, on SRH in a more diverse population.