Temporomandibular joint involvement in selected rheumatic diseases and rehabilitation options
Authors:
M. Gála; M. Hušáková
Authors‘ workplace:
Centrum léčebné rehabilitace, Revmatologický ústav, Praha
Published in:
Čes. Revmatol., 33, 2025, No. 4, p. 141-152.
Category:
Review Article
Overview
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the most frequently used joints in the human body, and its dysfunction or involvement is commonly observed in rheumatic diseases, particularly in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), and systemic sclerosis (SSc). Although clinical and imaging studies demonstrate a high prevalence of TMJ involvement, it is often overlooked in both diagnosis and treatment. Clinical manifestations may be nonspecific, asymptomatic, or overlap with other complaints, leading to underestimation of their significance. Functional relationships with dental occlusion, the cervical spine, and overall posture also play an important role, potentially modulating symptom perception and clinical presentation. TMJ involvement can substantially affect quality of life, masticatory function, posture, and the patient's overall functional status.
Physiotherapy represents an important component of the management of TMJ dysfunction. It is based on a comprehensive approach that, in addition to techniques targeting the TMJ region, includes interventions focused on the cervical spine, posture, and distant functional relationships. Various physiotherapeutic approaches are used, with the combination of individualized therapy and a home exercise programme showing the most promising results in available studies. The effectiveness of physiotherapy has been demonstrated particularly in juvenile idiopathic arthritis and, to a lesser extent, in RA, axSpA, and SSc. Published studies report beneficial effects on pain reduction, improvement in range of motion, and quality of life. However, the number of available studies remains limited, and clear evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice are still lacking.
Keywords:
systemic sclerosis – Rheumatology – Physiotherapy – rheumatoid arthritis – temporomandibular joint – axial spondyloarthritis
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Labels
Dermatology & STDs Paediatric rheumatology RheumatologyArticle was published in
Czech Rheumatology
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