EFFECTS OF MANUAL THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS
Keywords:
temporomandibular disorders, effect of manual therapy, TMD treatmentAbstract
Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a group of conditions that affect the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the muscles of mastication, and the tissues in that area. The methods and types of therapeutic modalities for the treatment of TMD are not clearly defined and more research is needed on this topic. For a good assessment and treatment of individuals with TMD, a multidisciplinary team is involved, which includes dentists, psychologists, and psychiatrists in addition to physiotherapists. Manual therapy can be used to treat TMD to relax muscles and improve TMJ mobility, and in combination with exercises, it improves quality of life and reduces stress. This paper represents a non experimental (qualitative) research, i.e. a scientific review of the published literature. Data for the study were collected from databases in which the key words for the review were: effectiveness of manual therapy for temporomandibular disorder, TMD. Various databases were used to prepare the paper, including PubMed, Medline, and Science Direct. Four studies that met the inclusion criteria from the period 2021 2025 were included for review and analysis. The studies analyzed in this article were conducted in Poland, Pakistan, Germany, and Spain. This article provides insight into the use of manual therapy in individuals with temporomandibular disorders. Also, further research is needed on the effects of manual therapy alone as well as manual therapy with combined physiotherapy modalities. Therefore, this article will serve as a strategy for further research
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