Postural Global Reeducation and Segmental Static Stretch in Individuals with Temporomandibular Disorder: A Comparative Study

• Published in: Motor control 2007-01, Vol.11, p.S228-S228
• Main Authors: Maluf, S, Marques, AP, Moreno, BGD, Crivello, O
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1087-1640

In myogenic TMD, most patients present pain in the elevator muscles of the man-dibula during the palpation or mastication with postural electromyographic activity increased and limitation of movement. Besides this, closer areas like shoulders and the cervical region can present tension, muscle shortening and trigger points. The therapeutic exercises that have been used in rehabilitation and prevention of the myogenic temporomandibular disorders, however, in an integrated form with other resources of the physiotherapy and/or odontology, impede a clear verification of their effects in the TMDs. This study aimed to compare the effects of the postural global reeducation and the segmental static stretch in the treatment of women with myogenic TMD, Helkino III. The intensity of the symptoms was evaluated (Visual Analog Scale) as well as the electromyography of the muscles masseter, temporal, trapezium and sternocleidomastoid. Twenty-eight women were selected and divided randomly into 2 groups. The treatment of group 1 consisted of 2 postures of PGR, one for the anterior chain and the other one for the posterior chain; the treatment of group 2 consisted of segmental stretch for the masticatory muscles, cervical region and upper limbs. Pompage maneuvers were added in both protocols. The two groups had 8 individual weekly sessions, which lasted 40 min each. In the data analysis of each group, the Friedman test was used with a 5% level of significance and among the groups, dispersion diagrams. The results suggest that the two kinds of stretch had the same effectiveness in the symptom relief (p < 0.005), decrease in the electromyographic activity in the muscle masseter (p < 0.005) after the treatment.