Effect of the Pilates method on women with temporomandibular disorders: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Physiotherapy and occlusal splint treatment in myalgia, cervi-cogenic headache, and arthralgia: a case report

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to describe a rare case of myalgia, cervicogenic headache, and arthralgia in which interaction of physiotherapy, relaxation techniques, cognitive and behavioral counseling, psychosocial support, and occlusal splint treatment resulted in a positive outcome. A 27-year-old woman presented to our clinic with myalgia of the right side of the face, right temporomandibular joint arthralgia, right and left temple pain, jaw elevator muscle pain, and head and neck muscle soreness. The right and left joints' magnetic resonance imaging revealed anterior disc displacement without reduction. The treatment strategy aimed for a non-invasive treatment approach to relieve pain and restore functions. An occlusal appliance with an anterior bite plane was selected, along with counseling, psychosocial support, physiotherapy, posture self-control, massage of the head and neck muscles, mouth opening exercises, and self-massage. A temporomandibular specialist oversaw the splint treatment's progress, a maxillofacial surgeon managed the clinical signs and symptoms of the muscles and joints, and a physiotherapist provided the physiotherapy. Muscle stability in the head and neck has been related to temporomandibular disorders and may have repercussions on craniofacial structure and function. Keywords: physiotherapy; massage; relaxation techniques; oral splint; temporomandibular dis-order

Nonpharmacological Interventions for Pain in Patients with Temporomandibular Joint Disorders: A Systematic Review

This systematic review aimed to compare the efficacy of nonpharmacological therapies for painful temporomandibular joint disorders. The protocol was registered on International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database (CRD42020171364). The search was performed on the electronic databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Clinical Trials, and Web of Science. The eligibility criteria were randomized controlled trials in patients diagnosed with painful temporomandibular joint disorders comparing the pain relief between conventional treatment and nonpharmacological therapies such as acupuncture, physiotherapy, low-level laser, and massage. Fourteen articles were included in this review. At the overall bias of the studies included, 71.42% exhibited some concerns and 28.57% had high risk. The efficacy of nonpharmacological interventions was found to be moderate in the short term and variable in the long term for pain reduction in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders. The evidence pointed out that acupuncture, laser therapy, and physiotherapy are potentially useful interventions for pain relief in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders. However, there is a lack of consistency and short-term follow-up in the studies to determine the lasting of such effect.