Exercise therapy in postoperative patients with temporomandibular joint internal derangement: A systematic review

• Published in: Journal of oral rehabilitation Vol. 51; no. 10; pp. 2158 - 2168
• Main Authors: Zhu, Yongkang, Xu, Jiaqi, Zhang, Jing, Wan, Yifan, He, Yang, Lei, Jie, Zhang, Yi, Yang, Chengfengyi, Yang, Yue
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.10.2024
• Subjects: exercise therapy; Exercise Therapy - methods; Humans; Pain; Patients; Postoperative Care - methods; postoperative period; Range of Motion, Articular - physiology; rehabilitation; Surgery; Temporomandibular joint; Temporomandibular Joint - physiopathology; Temporomandibular Joint - surgery; temporomandibular joint disc; temporomandibular joint disorders; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders - physiopathology; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders - rehabilitation; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders - surgery; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders - therapy; Treatment Outcome; postoperative period; pain; rehabilitation; exercise therapy; temporomandibular joint disorders; temporomandibular joint disc
• ISSN: 0305-182X; 1365-2842; 1365-2842
• DOI: 10.1111/joor.13780

Objective Postoperative patients with temporomandibular joint internal derangement (ID) often have problems such as limited mouth opening and pain. Exercise therapy can be advantageous for improving the recovery of patients following surgery. However, there is continuing discussion on the precise aspects of the exercise program, including the optimal timing, length, intensity, and use of assistive equipment. Hence, this study aimed to incorporate pre‐existing exercise treatment regimens and investigate their impact. Methods Publications that detailed the clinical treatment of patients with temporomandibular joint ID who received postoperative exercise therapy interventions were included. Nine databases were searched until October 1st, 2023. The JBI critical appraisal tools were used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Results Five studies were finally included for subsequent analysis; two were randomised controlled studies, and three were quasi‐experimental. Exercises suitable for such patients encompass vertical, transverse, and horizontal stretching, among which vertical stretch can be divided into active and passive movements. The start time ranged from the first to the fifth week after surgery, with a duration of 1–6 months. Although the data in the studies could not be integrated and further analysed, preliminary results showed that maximum mouth opening and pain in patients improved significantly. The therapeutic effect of combining three exercise methods was best and was related to patient compliance. Conclusion Exercise therapy positively affects postoperative rehabilitation in patients with temporomandibular joint ID. It is proposed that targeted, comprehensive studies be conducted to provide a basis for designing more sophisticated exercise therapy regimens and further confirm its curative effect. Content and effects of exercise therapy in postoperative patients with temporomandibular joint internal derangement