BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
Physical therapy contributes to mitigate temporomandibular disorder symptoms because, in addition to stimulating proprioception and the production of joint synovial fluid, it improves adhered muscle fibers elasticity. This study aimed at evaluating the stability of therapeutic results in a follow-up period post- physical therapy in temporomandibular disorder patients.
METHODS:
Participated in the study 25 individuals of both genders, with temporomandibular disorder diagnosis. After a multimodal physical therapy program during 10 weeks, which included self-care guidance and home exercises, participants were re-evaluated by the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders and algometry. Results obtained immediately after treatment were compared to results of the evaluation carried out after two months of follow-up.
RESULTS:
From 25 participants, with mean age of 31.6 years, 76% had no temporomandibular disorder diagnosis immediately after treatment and from these, 68% have maintained this result in the two-month follow-up period. With regard to joint noises, 60% of participants have remained with no noises and pressure pain threshold values had no statistically significant differences between evaluations.
CONCLUSION:
Multimodal physical therapy intervention, combined with self-care guidance and home exercises has produced, in this study, positive and long-lasting effects on temporomandibular disorder symptoms, maintaining results for two months after treatment completion.
Facial pain; Musculoskeletal manipulations; Physical therapy; Temporomandibular joint disorders; Therapeutic approaches
