The Effect of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Adjunct on Stabilization Splint Treatment in Temporomandibular Joint...

Objective: This study aimed to quantitatively assess the efficacy of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) as an adjunct to stabilization splint treatment for temporomandibular joint anterior disc displacement with reduction (ADDwR) disorder. Method: Thirty-eight joints were evaluated in this study. OMT, in addition to splint treatment, was administered to the study group, and the control group only received splint treatment. Before and after the treatments, the quality of life, the pain levels of distinct body regions, and the sleep quality were evaluated, while mandibular movements were assessed and condyle-disc position differences measured on magnetic resonance images. Results: In all the life qualities, except social functionality, increases after treatment were present for both control and study groups, but the increase was significant in bodily pain for the control group (p = 0.034) while increases were significant in physical functionality (p = 0.018), general health perception (p = 0.027), and reported health transition (p = 0.019) for the study group. Significant pain reduction in all body regions was seen in the study groups (p = 0.007-0.033), but the decrease was only significant for the temporomandibular joint for the control group (p = 0.011). The sleep quality significantly improved for the study group (p = 0.018). Limited after-treatment improvements in the condyle-disc positions were determined for both the normal joints and joints with ADDwR in the study group. Conclusions: The application of OMT adjunct to splint treatment increases quality of life and sleep, reduces bodily pain, and improves condyle-disc positions over the MRIs of TMJ.