ABSTRACT
Objective
This study aimed to investigate the effect of a home exercise program on pain and quality of life (QoL) in TMD.
Methods
Twenty patients were included in the study. The Group A received both a home exercise program and a physiotherapy program, while only a physiotherapy program was given to the Group B. Pain was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and QoL using the Short-Form 36 (SF-36).
Results
Pain decreased in both groups (p < 0.05). Among the SF-36 domains, bodily pain, vitality and social functioning scores improved in the Group A, while only the bodily pain parameter improved in the Group B (p < 0.05). On between-group comparison, the positive effect on pain and quality of life was greater in the Group A (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
The addition of a home exercise program to the conventional physiotherapy program provided greater improvement in pain and QoL in patients with TMD.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).