A Comparative Analysis Between Soft Tissue Manipulation and Pharmacotherapy in TMJ Myofascial Dysfunction Management:...

Area of Science:

• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Pain management
• Physical therapy

Background:

• Myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome (MPDS) is a common temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder causing pain and limited mouth opening.
• Pharmacotherapy is a common treatment but has side effects.
• Soft tissue manipulation offers a safer alternative, but comparative data is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of soft tissue manipulation versus pharmacotherapy for MPDS affecting the TMJ.

Main Methods:

• A single-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted in a tertiary care hospital.
• 34 participants were randomized into soft tissue manipulation (massage, myofascial release) or pharmacotherapy (muscle relaxants, analgesics) groups.
• Outcomes included pain scales (NPRS, CGPV 2.0), maximum mouth opening (MMO), and TMJ Disability Index (TMI).

Main Results:

• Both groups showed significant improvements in pain, CGPV 2.0, MMO, and TMI (p=0.001).
• Intergroup comparison revealed no significant difference in pain reduction (p=0.066).
• Soft tissue manipulation was superior in improving CGPV 2.0, MMO, and TMI (p=0.001).

Conclusions:

• Soft tissue manipulation is more effective than pharmacotherapy for MPDS of the TMJ.
• It significantly alleviates pain, improves mouth opening, and reduces disability.
• Pharmacotherapy primarily offers pain relief without improving jaw mobility.