SOFT TISSUE TREATMENT TECHNIQUES IN TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DYSFUNCTION (TMD)

Abstract

The Temporomandibular Joint plays fundamental roles, such as chewing, swallowing and speaking movements. Temporomandibular Disorder significantly and negatively impacts the quality of life of affected individuals, being more common among women. This study aims to analyze, by reviewing the literature, the effectiveness of physiotherapeutic intervention in the treatment of soft tissue injuries related to temporomandibular disorders. The investigation was conducted by an integrative literature review, in which articles were searched and chosen in Portuguese, English and Spanish, published between 2017 and 2024, analyzed in the databases: VHL, Scielo, Pubmed, Lilacs, Google Scholar. 9 articles were selected. Physiotherapy approaches and tools, such as manual therapy, ultrasound, kinesiotherapy, TENS, elastic bandaging, dry needling and facial massages, have been shown to be effective in treating and preventing temporomandibular disorders. This strategy has proven to be efficient in assisting and preventing the worsening of symptoms or recurrence of the dysfunction. Considering that many cases of TMD are linked to behavioral and postural aspects, conservative treatment also aims to change behaviors that contribute to the issue, such as bruxism, stress and inadequate postures. In conclusion, conservative treatment focuses on patient safety, promoting a more natural and effective recovery.