Investigation of The Correlation Between Pain, Proprioception and Range of Motion in Patients With Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of study was to investigate the relationship between pain, proprioception and range of motion in patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD). Material and Methods: The study was completed with 45 participants diagnosed with TMD and 45 healthy controls. Visual analog scale and graded chronic pain scale were used to assess pain intensity, dolorimeter was used for pain pressure threshold (PPT) assessment. Evaluation of cervical proprioception by cervical joint position error test (JPET), cervical joint range of motion assessment by digital goniometer, mouth opening measurements were made with a ruler. Results: In the study, pain intensity was high and PPT was low in the TMD group. In the JPET, the right-left rotation and left lateral flexion values in the TMD group had higher mean values than the control group (p=0.028, p=0.003, p=0.004, respectively). There was a significant difference between the groups in digital goniometer measurement in right-left rotation, right-left lateral flexion movements(p=0.008, p=0.001, p=0.041, p=0.005, respectively). The TMD group had a lower mean than the control group in painless, maximum assisted and unassisted mouth opening measurements(p=0.001, p=0.001, p=0.001, respectively). Conclusion: TMD patients presented a lower PPT, less accurate head repositioning, and some impairment in cervical range of motion.