title: The effectiveness of exercise therapy for temporomandibular dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effectiveness of exercise therapy on pain, function, and mobility outcomes in patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review with meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review and meta-analysis undertaken following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Studies that met the inclusion criteria: (1) randomized controlled trials; (2) a population with the diagnosis of temporomandibular joint dysfunction; and (3) interventions that included exercise therapy were considered for review. When studies demonstrated homogeneity on outcome measures, the mean differences or standardized mean differences with 95% confidence interval were calculated and pooled in a meta-analysis for pooled synthesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six articles with a total of 419 participants were included in the review and only four studies were included in the meta-analysis. Mobility and mixed exercise therapy approaches appear to be the most common exercise approaches utilized for management of temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Exercise therapy and the associated dosage provide moderate short-term and varying long-term benefits in reduction of pain and improvement of range of motion of the in patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Included studies suggest a mobility or a mixed approach to exercise therapies have impact on reducing pain, significant impact for increasing range of motion, but lack a significant impact for functional improvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapy, level 1a-.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Walsh University, North Canton, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Shantil M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Dickerson
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Walsh University, North Canton, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Jarod M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Walsh University, North Canton, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Ashley N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Boyson
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Walsh University, North Canton, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Jared A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Thacker
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Walsh University, North Canton, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Junak
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Walsh University, North Canton, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Pamela D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Ritzline
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Walsh University, North Canton, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Megan B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Donaldson
mesh_terms: D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011379:Prognosis; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Temporomandibular dysfunction; exercise; meta-analysis; rehabilitation interventions; systematic review