Possibilities and limitations in the kinetic treatment of the temporomandibular joint dysfunction in rheumatic patients

The morpho-functional temporomandibular complex records a common rheumatic pathology, wich generate pain and dysfunction. It was conducted a prospective study that investigated 103 subjects with severe rheumatic temoromandibular disease. The applied treatment was aimed to decrease pain, obtaining local and general relaxation, increase of range of motin, increase muscle strength, development of coordination and stabilityof ATM through kinetic means. On the studied cases the average of the temporomandibular involment was 3.24 ± 2.66 years and the intensity of pain on VAS scale was 6.20±1.66 (p=0.001). The joint assessment revealed the increase of range of motion after 3 months, respectively 6 months of kinetic treatment (p<;0,001). ATM index records a slight increase at older than 50 years age (ATM index > 15) at the beginning, and at the final the index felt bellow 10 to all groups of ages. For the patients included in the study kinetic recovery favored the increase of local functionality and overcome neuromuscular imbalances.