Ann Rehabil Med.  2018 Dec;42(6):846-853. 10.5535/arm.2018.42.6.846.

Effects of Ultrasound, Laser and Exercises on Temporomandibular Joint Pain and Trismus Following Head and Neck Cancer

• Elgohary H
• Eladl HM
• Soliman AH
• Soliman ES

• KMID: 2448906
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2018.42.6.846

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of low intensity ultrasound (LIUS), traditional exercise therapy (TET), low level laser therapy (LLLT) and TET on temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain and trismus following recovery from head and neck cancer (HNC).
METHODS
Sixty participants following, who had experienced HNC, were randomly allocated to three groups of 20 people each. Each group received different therapy. Group A received LIUS and TET; group B received LLLT and TET; while group C received TET. All 60 participants were evaluated under the visual analog scale (VAS), the University of Washington Quality of Life questionnaire (UW-QOL) and the Vernier caliper scale (VCS) at the beginning of the therapies and after 4 weeks.
RESULTS
ANOVA test revealed significant improvements across all three groups with outcomes of p < 0.05. The results of the UW-QOL questionnaire showed a significant difference between groups A, B and C in favor of group A (p < 0.05). The VAS results showed a more improvement in group A as compared to group B (p < 0.05), while there was no statistical difference between groups B and C (p>0.05). The VCS results showed more improvement for the individuals in group B as compared to those in group C (p < 0.05), while there was minimal difference between groups A and B (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION
The LIUS and TET are more effective than LLLT and/or TET in reducing TMJ pain and trismus following HNC.

Keyword

Ultrasonics; Lasers; Trismus; Temporomandibular joint; Head and neck neoplasms

MeSH Terms

Exercise Therapy
Exercise*
Head and Neck Neoplasms*
Head*
Low-Level Light Therapy
Quality of Life
Temporomandibular Joint*
Trismus*
Ultrasonics
Ultrasonography*
Visual Analog Scale
Washington

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Flowchart diagram of the study. LIUS, low intensity ultrasound; TET, traditional exercise therapy; LLLT, low level laser therapy.

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