An Investigation of the Effectiveness of Exercise and Manual Therapy in Treating Symptoms of TMJ Osteoarthritis

a. pain in the temporomandibular region; b. symptoms lasting at least three months; and c. radiologically proven OA. All patients were assigned to a waiting list, serving as a no treatment control period. Nineteen patients completed the study. No adverse effects occurred. During the control period (mean duration 35 days), the parameters did not change significantly. After treatment (mean duration 46 days) pain, impairment, and incisal edge clearance improved significantly (Wilcoxon test p < 0.001). At follow-up, pain and impairment were further reduced. The number of patients experiencing no pain at rest (80%), chi-square test p = 0.02) and stress (47%), chi-square test p = 0.03), and no impairment (37%), chi-square test p = 0.05) increased significantly. This therapeutic treatment protocol seems to be useful treatment for the symptoms of clinical dysfunction in OA of the TMJ.