Muscular physiotherapy in patients with temporomandibular disorders. Controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the short term effects of physiotherapy and counseling in the treatment of myofascial pain of the jaw muscles. METHODS: Forty consecutive myogenous TMD patients, were assigned to two treatment groups with a balanced-block randomization. The first group received only counseling, the second group received counseling supplemented by physiotherapy. The patients were followed for a period of three months. Data were collected on two different occasions: T0 = baseline and T1 = three months after the start of treatment. Treatment success was decided on the basis of an index called treatment contrast (Tc). It allowed a subjective, an objective and a total evaluation of the effects of the two therapeutic protocols. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between groups in the outcome measures except for the subjective evaluation of treatment success: physiotherapy seems to be slightly more effective than counseling. CONCLUSIONS: Elective therapy for the treatment of TMD patients remains the conservative one. Success of this therapy depend on a good patient--clinician relation, which improves patient's compliance.