The Effectiveness of Manual Therapy Applications in Individuals With Rheumatoid Arthritis Who Have Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of manual therapy applications on pain, range of motion and joint position sense in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis who have temporomandibular joint dysfunction. The 57 patients included in the study were divided into 3 groups by simple randomization. Group 1 received myofascial mobilization of masticatory muscles and group 2 received temporomandibular joint mobilization twice a week for 6 weeks. The control group received no treatment. The groups were evaluated twice, before and after treatment. The control group underwent a second evaluation 6 weeks after the first evaluation. C-ROM was used to evaluate cervical range of motion and joint position sensation, millimeter ruler was used to evaluate TMJ range of motion, Algometer was used to evaluate pressure pain threshold of muscles, Headache Impact Test-HIT-6 was used for headache, Fonseca Anamnestic Index (FAI) and Jaw Function Limitation Scale-20 (JFLS-20) were used for temporomandibular dysfunction severity, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 was used for emotional state. In the cervical range of motion, the myofascial group showed significant normal range of motion improvements only in the flexion and lateral flexion directions, while no benefit was obtained in the extension and rotation directions. In the joint mobilization group, significant improvements were observed in all directions (flexion, extension, lateral flexion, rotation) (p<0.05). In the evaluation of cervical joint position sensation, improvements in joint position sensation were observed in all directions in the joint mobilization group. In the myofascial mobilization group, limited improvements were observed in some directions, but most of the variables decreased (p<0.05). In the measurement of pressure pain thresholds, a decrease was observed in the two treatment groups before and after treatment and compared to the control group (p<0.05), while no statistically significant difference was detected in any variable in the comparison between the treatment groups (P>0.05). Patients in the two treatment groups showed an increase in mandibular range of motion in all directions compared to both the pre- and post-treatment and control groups (p<0.05), while no statistically significant difference was detected in any variable in the comparison between the treatment groups (P>0.05). Joint mobilization and myofascial mobilization applications significantly reduced headache, anxiety severity and improved jaw function. There was a significant decrease in HIT-6, GAD-7, JFLS-20 total, JFLS-20 mastication, JFLS-20 mobility, JFLS-20 communication and Fonseca scores in both groups (p<0.05), while no statistically significant difference was found in any variable in the comparison of treatment groups (P>0.05). It was observed that myofascial mobilization and joint mobilization applications had positive effects on pain, mandibular range of motion, cervical joint range of motion and joint position sensation, jaw functions, headache and anxiety level in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis with temporomandibular joint dysfunction.