The Use of Manual Muscle Relaxation Techniques in the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

The aim of the study was to compare the degree of relaxation of the anterior part of the temporal muscles and the masseter muscles achieved with the use of post-isometric relaxation and myofascial release methods in patients requiring prosthetic treatment due to temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) with a dominant muscular component. The study included 60 patients, both sexes, aged between 19 and 40. The patients who met the inclusion criteria were alternately assigned to one of the two study groups: I group consisted of the patients received post-isometric relaxation treatment (PIR), II group - patients received myofascial release treatment (MFR). Each group consisted of 30 subjects. The series of ten treatments were performed in both groups. The comparative assessment was carried out based on the data obtained from the physical examination, physiotherapeutic examination of the masticatory system, surface electromyography (sEMG) of anterior temporal and masseter muscles and the data on the intensity of spontaneous masticatory muscle pain assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).