ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
Temporomandibular disorder is a generic term for conditions that affect the temporomandibular joint, mastication muscles and/or associated structures. The multifactor etiology of the temporomandibular disorder requires multidisciplinary treatment. As constant pain is one of the main characteristics of this disorder, some patients limit their movements during physical activities as a defense mechanism to protect against pain. The present study aimed to determine whether the participation of individuals with the temporomandibular disorder in dance therapy is related to the fear of practicing physical activities.
METHODS:
An exploratory, quantitative study was conducted with a sample of 35 patients with chronic pain recruited from a clinic specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorder. The participants were allocated to two groups: active group (n=14) and control group (n=21). The Brazilian version of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia was used to measure the fear of movement.
RESULTS:
Mean age was 46.4 years in the active group and 42.9 years in the control group. The mean kinesiophobia score (on a scale of 17 to 68) was 39 in the active group and 39.8 in the control group.
CONCLUSION:
The present findings demonstrate no significant difference in terms of the degree of kinesiophobia between individuals who agreed and declined to participate in the proposed activity (dance).
Keywords:
Chronic pain; Dance therapy; Exercise therapy; Fear; Temporomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome