[Muscular physiotherapy in patients with temporomandibular disorders. Controlled clinical trial].
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the short term effects of physiotherapy and counseling in the treatment of myofascial pain of the jaw muscles.


METHODS
Forty consecutive myogenous TMD patients, were assigned to two treatment groups with a balanced-block randomization. The first group received only counseling, the second group received counseling supplemented by physiotherapy. The patients were followed for a period of three months. Data were collected on two different occasions: T0 = baseline and T1 = three months after the start of treatment. Treatment success was decided on the basis of an index called treatment contrast (Tc). It allowed a subjective, an objective and a total evaluation of the effects of the two therapeutic protocols.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference between groups in the outcome measures except for the subjective evaluation of treatment success: physiotherapy seems to be slightly more effective than counseling.


CONCLUSIONS
Elective therapy for the treatment of TMD patients remains the conservative one. Success of this therapy depend on a good patient--clinician relation, which improves patient's compliance.
Michelotti
A
A
Dipartimento di Scienze Odontostomatologiche e Maxillo Facciali, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli. michelot@unina.it
Parisini
F
F
Farella
M
M
Cimino
R
R
Martina
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003376:Counseling; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000628:therapy*