Pilot study of the short-term effects of range-of-motion exercise for the temporomandibular joint in patients with temporomandibular joint disc displacement without reduction.
Shigemitsu Sakuma, Yoshihiro Yamaguchi, Nozomu Taguchi and 3 others
PMID 28265156WHAT IT FOUND
In 36 women with temporomandibular joint disc displacement without reduction, therapist-applied TMJ range-of-motion plus daily self-traction improved mouth opening, pain, and daily impact at about 2 weeks.
Both treatments were given together, so neither alone can be credited.
Key findings
01All clinical symptoms measured in the study improved significantly between the first visit and the second visit (p<0.001).
02Maximum mouth opening distance increased from 30.4 mm to 40.5 mm, and pain on motion decreased from 53.1 mm to 27.4 mm, pain on mastication decreased from 60.7 mm to 28.3 mm, and impact on daily activities decreased from 49.4 mm to 24.3 mm.
03The intervention combined therapist-applied TMJ range-of-motion exercise with patient self-traction, so the contribution of either part alone cannot be separated.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
This was a pilot study with no control group, so natural recovery or other changes over time cannot be ruled out. The therapist-applied TMJ exercise and patient self-traction were given together, so the effect of either component alone cannot be separated. All participants were women, so the results may not apply to men. Follow-up was short and variable, with a mean interval of 12.6 days and a range of 8 to 18 days, so longer-term benefit is unknown. Participants were selected for moderate to severe symptoms, so the results may not apply to milder temporomandibular joint disc displacement without reduction.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that therapist-applied TMJ exercise alone or self-traction alone caused the improvement. The treatments were delivered together, and the pilot had no control group, so the study cannot separate components or rule out natural recovery.