Effectiveness of Physical Teraphy in the Treatment of Myogenic Temporomandibular Disorders

Randomized controlled clinical trial with randomization according to a multi-phase design.

Phase 1 involves the enrollment of patients with DTMs based on diagnostic criteria.

Phase 2 includes the algogenic, kinetic and gnathological evaluation of the enrolled patients.

Phase 3 provides for the adoption of the criterion to one of the 2 treatment groups on the basis of the randomization list.

The 2 therapeutic protocols are:

• gnathological therapy (splint) associated with education and physiotherapy (test group);
• gnathological therapy (splint) associated with education (control group). During the first visit the patient will be enlisted by evaluating the inclusion and exclusion criteria and signed the informed consent, he / she will be assigned a unique identification code.

The code consists of a progressive number followed by the patient's initials (eg 01-F.R.).

Subsequently, the patients will be randomized blinded and assigned to one of the two study groups.

Randomization will be performed using random, computer-generated, centralized numbers placed in sealed opaque envelopes provided by the study coordinator.

Both types of treatment will be performed by a single operator respectively.

Inclusion criteria

• patients with myogenic temporomandibular disorders assessed with clinical examination as established by the DC / TMD1;
• patients older than 18 years;
• good knowledge of Italian language;
• patients who have signed informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• edentulism which makes it impossible to apply gnathological bite;
• patients with psychiatric problems;
• patients included in other experimental protocols;
• patients already undergoing surgical and / or radial therapy of the cervical and facial areas;
• other temporomandibular disorders without a myogenic component;
• treatment of the cervical and TMJ district in the previous 3 months;
• history of drug abuse.