Physiotherapeutic rehabilitation of adolescent patients with temporomandibular disorders.

Abstract

TMD is a group of pathological changes including increased tension in the masticatory muscles, pain in the muscles and/or the temporomandibular joints, abnormal range of the mandibular movement or the presence of acoustic symptoms in the joints in the form of clicking or poping. The aim of the project was to compare the effectiveness of two methods of physiotherapeutic rehabilitation, used in adolescent patients with temporomandibular disorders.

Material and methods: The material consisted of 68 patients, aged 14 to 17, of both sexes, generally healthy, who came to the Dental Prosthetics Department for treatment due to pain in the masticatory muscles. Dental examination and diagnostics revealed Ia in all cases in accordance with RDC/TMD protocol. Manual therapy was performed in group I (34 people) and kinesitherapy with massage was performed in group II (34 people). Patients were allocated randomly to both groups. Contraindications were considered for both methods.

Results: Within the first study, mean values of pain intensity between group I and group II were not significantly different (6.12 and 6.24 respectively). Within the second study significantly lower VAS scores in both groups have been revealed (0.92 and 0.74 respectively). Results of the first and second study differed significantly in both groups. Similar results were obtained for the maximum abduction of the mandible.

Conclusions: The results of the conducted studies indicate a beneficial effect of the assessed physiotherapeutic procedures in terms of functional rehabilitation of adolescent patients with temporomandibular disorders.