Chiropractic Treatment for Temporomandibular Disorders: Comparing Adjustment Therapy to Soft Tissue Therapy

Many diseases are very complex and this is especially true with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). The lack of consensus on the aetiology, signs and symptoms and treatments available makes it extremely difficult for health care practitioners to treat TMDs. Two competing definitions stand out in current literature. The physical medicine and dental professions define TMDs as various musculoskeletal disorders of the masticatory system. Some authors also stated that most patients with TMDs suffer primarily from a muscular disorder caused by masticatory myofascial trigger points (TrPs). The chiropractic profession defines TMDs as a group of somatic disorders that occur around the structurally integrated craniomandibular system but primarily affects the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) system. The term TMDs recognises that this craniomandibular pathology is a result of dysfunction in any structural area of the head or neck, not only the TMJ. The purpose of this study was to compare an adjustment treatment approach versus a soft tissue approach for the treatment of TMDs.