Efficacy of adding pulsed electromagnetic field therapy to mobilization and exercises in patients with TMJ dysfunction after facial penetrating injury: A randomized single-blinded study

Abstract

Background. Facial penetrating wound can affect TMj function, even if it didn’t cause a facial bone fracture. Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMFT) is a common physical therapy modality that used to speed up musculoskeletal injuries’ recovery. No previous studies described the effect of adding PEMFT to traditional TMj mobilization for the treatment of such cases. Aim. is to investigate the effect of in combination with traditional physical therapy on the pain and mouth opening, after facial penetrating wound injury with no facial fractures, that treated conservatively. Materials and Methods. Thirty-three patients were complaining from TMJ pain and mouth opening limitation after 1 month of facial penetrating wound injury and met the selection criteria were randomized to either study or control group. Control group received TMJ manual physical therapy program (mobilization and gentle isometric exercises). Study group patients received PEMFT in addition to the manual physical therapy program. Treatment was administrated for 12 sessions 3 times per week for both groups. Patients’ pain was assessed using visual analogue scale while mouth opening was measured using digital Vernier caliper, before and after one month of treatment. Results. all 33 patient results were analyzed. After treatment values showed a statistically significant reduction in pain and increase in mouth opening in comparison to pretreatment values at both groups with (P-value < 0.001). Post-treatment between groups comparison showed a significant difference in pain and mouth opening variables (p-value = 0.0001 and 0002 respectively), in favour of group B (Study group). Conclusion. adding PEMFT to TMJ manual physical therapy program, in treatment of patients with TMJ dysfunction (pain and limitation of mouth opening) after facial penetrating wound injury, has a superior effect in comparison to using of manual physical therapy treatment program only.