Short-term effects of range-of-motion exercise on temporomandibular joints of patients who undergo disc displacement with reduction of temporomandibular joint.
Shigemitsu Sakuma, Yoshihiro Yamaguchi, Kei Taguchi and 3 others
PMID 33519069WHAT IT FOUND
Patients with jaw disc displacement reported less pain and wider mouth opening after two weeks of combining therapist-led jaw exercises with daily self-traction.
Because everyone received the same care with no control group, these gains might reflect natural recovery.
Key findings
01All measured symptoms, including pain on motion, pain on mastication, and impact on daily activities, showed significant improvement after approximately two weeks.
02The intervention combined a single therapist-led range-of-motion exercise with patient-performed self-traction done upon waking and while bathing.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study was a single-group pilot with no control or comparison group, so it is impossible to know if the improvements were due to the treatment or natural recovery. The follow-up period was short, averaging 17.5 days, so the long-term effects of the treatment are unknown. The study did not separate the effects of the therapist-led exercise from the patient-led self-traction, so the contribution of each component is unclear. Participants were recruited from a single dental institution, which may limit how well the results apply to other populations.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest or funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this combined program is superior to other treatments or that the improvements were caused solely by the exercises. Without a control group, the observed changes could reflect the natural course of the condition or the passage of time.