抄録
The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of physio-medical therapy for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome with myofascial pain dysfunction. The subjects were 30 patients clinically diagnosed TMJ syndrome: nine had myofascial pain dysfunction alone and twenty-one suffered from myofascial pain dysfunction and TMJ disorder. Physiotherapy consisted of massage of masticatory and cervical muscles with or without hot fomentation, 3 to 5 times a day, for 2 weeks. The patients were given muscle relaxant for 2 weeks. Some patients were also given an anti-inflammatory drug.
Difficulty of mouth opening was markedly improved in 20 of the 26 patients (77%). TMJ tenderness disappeared in 83%(10/12), but TMJ pain at maximal mouth opening subsided in only 41%(7/17). Muscle pain at jaw movement was relieved in 89%(17/19), and muscle tenderness subsided in 73%(22/30). TMJ clicking disappeared in 3 out of 12 patients. In the results, myofascial pain dysfunction was markedly improved in 71%(23/30). These results indicate that a combination of muscle massage and muscle relaxant are effective modality for TMJ syndrome with myofascial pain dysfunction.
