title: Treating trismus: A prospective study on effect and compliance to jaw exercise therapy in head and neck cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Trismus after head and neck cancer is a symptom associated with pain and negatively affected health-related quality of life. The purpose of this study was to compare two different jaw exercise devices and the compliance to exercise.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty patients with head and neck cancer were randomized to jaw exercise with either the TheraBite or Engström jaw device in a 10-week exercise program. Patients were regularly assessed by an oral surgeon, filled in exercise diaries, and answered the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 Head and Neck 35-questions (EORTC QLQ H&N35) and the Gothenburg Trismus Questionnaire (GTQ).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups improved their mouth opening, 7.2 mm (22.9%) and 5.5 mm (17.6%) for TheraBite and Engström, respectively. The largest increase in mouth opening and highest compliance to exercise was seen during the 4 first weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Jaw exercise therapy effectively improved mouth opening capacity and led to less trismus-related symptoms. Both jaw devices were proved efficient and compliance to exercise was comparable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pauli
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine/Multidisciplinary Pain Centre, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Paulin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andréll
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Bodil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fagerberg-Mohlin
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Finizia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014313:Trismus / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Gothenburg Trismus Questionnaire; TheraBite; exercise therapy; head and neck cancer; trismus