Physical therapy and multidisciplinary approach of TMD and headache

Abstract

Patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) commonly present pain, noises and limitations or deviations during mouth opening, and limitations of mandibular function. Moreover, they often report comorbid disorders, such as neck pain or headaches while migraine and tension type headache are the most common types. There are increasing number of studies approaching the treatment of those patients, considering physical therapy, dentistry, and multidisciplinary approaches. However, studies examining physical therapy interventions are still required to strengthen the evidence of their effect on complementing TMD treatment. This proposal for a research internship abroad during regular doctorate is supported by two studies. The first one aims to analyze data from a randomized controlled trial that has been performed at Federal University of São Carlos-Brazil, in collaboration with Drª Corine Visscher, from the Academic Centre of Dentistry Amsterdam/Netherlands, Dr. Francisco Alburquerque Sendin, from Salamanca University/Spain, and Drª Susan Armijo-Olivo, from Alberta University/Canada. Part of the internship will be devoted to perform data analysis to support the production of a manuscript focused on verifying clinical changes after 10 sessions of a physical therapy protocol. This treatment was based on craniocervical mobilization and neck stabilization exercises with biofeedback in subjects with TMD. Patients who did not receive any treatment composed the control group. The second study is a 26-weeks follow-up study, and will take place on Academic Center of Dentistry Amsterdam. The objective is to determine whether successful treatment of temporomandibular disorders (based on dentistry, physical therapy and psychology) improves concomitant headache complaints. The hypothesis is that in patients with a successful TMD treatment, the secondary headache also resolves. This proposal will be very important to consolidate the experience of the PhD student on clinical research, particularly focusing on TMD and related issues. This research topic has been recently addressed at Universidade Federal de São Carlos. Therefore, the international cooperation involved here will be very important to strengthen current and future research on TMD performed by our group in Brazil. (AU)