Shousha T1,2, Moustafa I1,3, Hegazy F1,4, Behiry M5, Raigangar V6
1University of Sharjah / College of Health Sciences, Physiotherapy, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, 2Cairo University, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Orthopedic, Giza, Egypt, 3Cairo University, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Basic Sciences, Giza, Egypt, 4Cairo University, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Paediatrics, Giza, Egypt, 5Delta University for Science and Technology/Faculty of Physical Therapy, Orthopedic, Gamasa, Egypt, 6University of Sharjah, Physiotherapy, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Background: The number of patients suffering from temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) has been increased dramatically. It has been reported that 8 out of 10 patients seek health care primarily from a dentist complaining of symptoms that are diagnosed as bruxism or TMD. TMD is known as a group of disorders that affect the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the masticatory system, or both, and may even extend to involve the surrounding related structures. It has been considered a major public health concern as a main cause of chronic orofacial pain with a major negative impact on activities of daily living and quality of life. Affected surrounding regions and structures include the head and neck leading to symptoms of headache, muscle spasm, ringing or fullness in the ear, cervical spine dysfunction, and an altered craniovertebral angle seen as a forward head posture. Traditionally, occlusive splints are the primary line of treatment but physiotherapy has proven to be an important means of treatment. Still the effect of physiotherapy is controversial due to the different study designs and methods of implementation.
Purpose: This study compared the effects of a short-term conservative physiotherapy program versus those of occlusive splinting on pain and range of motion in cases of Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction.
Methods: This study included 112 male and female participants with ages ranging from 15-27 years. Outcome measures were pain assessed by the visual analogue scale and Temporomandibular Joint Range of Motion measured with the Temporomandibular joint opening index. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Conservative physiotherapy was provided to one group 3 days weekly while the other group received standard occlusive splinting. Splinting was used daily for the total period of treatment. Any adjustments for splints were done by the treating dentist. Both groups were treated for a total period of 6 weeks.
Results: Between group statistical analysis revealed a significant reduction in pain intensity and Temporomandibular joint opening index in favour of the conservative physiotherapy group.
Conclusion(s): Over a treatment period of 6 consecutive weeks, conservative physiotherapy could be a better initial treatment than occlusive splint in relieving pain and improving range of motion in cases of myogenic temporomandibular dysfunction.
Implications: Short term physiotherapy can be used as a primary line of treatment for TMD.
Keywords: Physiotherapy, Temporomandibular joint, Occlusive
Funding acknowledgements: This study did not receive any funding
Purpose: This study compared the effects of a short-term conservative physiotherapy program versus those of occlusive splinting on pain and range of motion in cases of Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction.
Methods: This study included 112 male and female participants with ages ranging from 15-27 years. Outcome measures were pain assessed by the visual analogue scale and Temporomandibular Joint Range of Motion measured with the Temporomandibular joint opening index. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Conservative physiotherapy was provided to one group 3 days weekly while the other group received standard occlusive splinting. Splinting was used daily for the total period of treatment. Any adjustments for splints were done by the treating dentist. Both groups were treated for a total period of 6 weeks.
Results: Between group statistical analysis revealed a significant reduction in pain intensity and Temporomandibular joint opening index in favour of the conservative physiotherapy group.
Conclusion(s): Over a treatment period of 6 consecutive weeks, conservative physiotherapy could be a better initial treatment than occlusive splint in relieving pain and improving range of motion in cases of myogenic temporomandibular dysfunction.
Implications: Short term physiotherapy can be used as a primary line of treatment for TMD.
Keywords: Physiotherapy, Temporomandibular joint, Occlusive
Funding acknowledgements: This study did not receive any funding
Topic: Musculoskeletal
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Cairo university, faculty of Physiotherapy
Ethics committee: Faculty of Physical therapy ethics committee
Ethics number: P.T/REC/017/00865
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
