Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for treating disorders of the temopromandibular joint

Abstract

Objective To study the therapeutic effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs). Methods Sixty patients with a temporomandibular joint disorder were randomly divided into an ESWT group and a control group, each of 30. Both groups were given routine rehabilitation training, but the treatment group additionally received ESWT for 2 weeks. Fricton′s index was used to evaluate temporomandibular joint function. The subjects used a visual analogue scale (VAS) to evaluate their pain levels. The SF-36 scale was applied to assess their life quality. Results After two weeks of treatment, the average assessment score and VAS score had decreased significantly in both groups. After treatment the average scores for mandibular movement, muscle palpation, joint noise and joint palpation, and the palpation, dysfunction and craniomandibular indexes were all significantly lower in the ESWT group than in the control group. Significant differences were also found in the average VAS scores and on the social functioning domain of the SF-36 between the ESWT group and the control group. Conclusion ESWT combined with rehabilitation training can significantly relieve the symptoms and pain of TMDs. Key words: Temporomandibular joint; Shock wave therapy; Fricton′s index; Pain; Quality of life