An investigation of the effectiveness of exercise and manual therapy in treating symptoms of TMJ osteoarthritis

The background and:purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the use of a treatment protocol which included active and passive law movements, manu al therapy techniques, :correction of body posture, and relaxation techniqu es for the treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthrosis OA). T wenty consecutive patients suffering from TMJ OA participated in this study . Inclusion criteria: a. pain in the temporomandibular region; b. symptoms lasting at least three months; and c. radiologically proven OA. All:patient s were assigned to a waiting list, serving as a no treatment control period . Nineteen patients completed the study. No adverse effects occurred. Durin g the control period (mean duration 35 days), the parameters did not:change significantly, After treatment (mean duration 46 days) pain, impairment, a nd:incisal edge clearance improved significantly (Wilcoxon test p < 0.001), At follow-up, pain and Impairment were further reduced, The number of pati ents experiencing no pain at rest:(80%), chi-square test p = 0.02) and stre ss (47%), chi-square test p = 0.03), and no impairment (37%), chi-square te st p = 0.05) increased significantly, This therapeutic treatment protocol s eems to be useful treatment for the symptoms of clinical dysfunction in OA of the TMJ.