Effect of educational and self-care therapies on masticatory performance of women with painful temporomandibular disorder

Abstract Introduction Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) can compromise masticatory performance due to the presence of pain, muscular dysfunction and limitation of mandibular movements. Substantial improvements in TMD pain can be achieved through therapeutic approaches including education and self-care. Objective The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of these treatment modalities in the masticatory performance of women with painful TMD. Material and method Fifty-two women were randomly divided into three groups: Control Group (CG); Education Group (received education about TMD) (EG); Self-Care and Education Group (received education about TMD and instructions self-care therapies) (SEG). The education instructions about TMD and self-care therapies were transmitted through a video and printed illustrative material. The masticatory performance was evaluated through the sieves method with natural tested foods in the evaluation periods: baseline evaluation, 30 days after and 60 days of follow-up. Data were analyzed and used with a one-way ANOVA parametric test for mean comparison of CG, EG and SEG groups (α = 0.05). Result The masticatory performance of the participants was similar, irrespective of the proposed treatments, at baseline (p=.604), 30 days (p=.450) and 60 days (p=.669). Conclusions The results indicated that treatment with educational and self-care therapies over a period of 60 days had no impact on the masticatory performance of women with painful TMD.

摘要
引言：颞下颌关节紊乱病（Temporomandibular disorders, TMD）可因疼痛、肌肉功能障碍及下颌运动受限而损害咀嚼效能。通过健康教育与自我护理等治疗手段，可显著改善TMD患者的疼痛症状。
研究目的：本研究旨在探讨此类治疗手段对疼痛性TMD女性患者咀嚼效能的影响。
材料与方法：将52名女性受试者随机分为三组：对照组（CG）、健康教育组（EG，接受TMD相关健康教育）、健康教育联合自我护理组（SEG，接受TMD相关健康教育及自我护理疗法指导）。TMD健康教育与自我护理疗法指导通过视频及印刷图解材料进行传授。分别于基线评估、干预后30天及随访60天时，采用天然受试食物筛分法评估受试者的咀嚼效能。采用单因素方差分析参数检验对三组的均数进行比较，检验水准α=0.05。
结果：在基线评估（p=0.604）、干预后30天（p=0.450）及随访60天（p=0.669）时，各组受试者的咀嚼效能均无显著差异，与所采用的治疗手段无关。
结论：本研究结果显示，为期60天的健康教育与自我护理疗法，对疼痛性TMD女性患者的咀嚼效能无显著影响。