A new training device for rehabilitation of lateral mandibular movements: a pilot study

Laterotrusive training is often used together with mouth-opening training in order to achieve adequate translation of the affected condyle in treatment of TMJ closed lock. This training is usually performed by voluntary laterotrusive movement (VLM) or by laterotrusive movement using only the fingers (FLM). However, satisfactory results are often not obtained by using these methods. To resolve this problem, we devised a new laterotrusive training device (LT device). In this paper, we describe the method of the training of laterotrusive movement using the LT device (LLM) and present a comparison of the results obtained by using LLM with those obtained by using VLM and FLM. The subjects were ten patients with TMJ closed lock. The following results were obtained: 1. the range of LLM was significantly larger than those of VLM and FLM; and 2. all of the patients reported that LLM could be performed more easily than VLM and FLM. In conclusion, the LT device is thought to be useful for laterotrusive training in TMJ closed lock.