Methods, Applications, and Limitations of Somatic Maneuvers for the Modulation of Tinnitus

The modulation of tinnitus through somatic maneuvers is a well-documented phenomenon in tinnitus patients with somatic disorders. The purpose of this study was to review the methods, applications, and limitations of somatic maneuvers. First, 35 somatic maneuvers proposed by various research groups were summarized according to four body areas (jaw, head and neck, eye, and limbs), following which their applications and limitations were assessed. Although some studies have shown that somatic maneuvers can aid in screening for somatic tinnitus and may help alleviate symptoms with repeated practice, the limited number of studies and inconsistent results among studies make it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Therefore, follow-up studies are required to overcome these limitations and determine whether the treatment of somatic disorders can also aid in alleviating somatic tinnitus.