Effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative treatment versus osteopathy in the cranial field in temporomandibular disorders – a pilot study
Abstract
PURPOSE: Temporomandibular disorders are a common musculoskeletal condition causing severe pain, physical and psychological disability. The effect and evidence of osteopathic manipulative treatment and osteopathy in the cranial field is scarce and their use are controversial. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative treatment and osteopathy in the cranial field in temporomandibular disorders. METHODS: A randomized clinical trial in patients with temporomandibular disorders was performed. Forty female subjects with long-term temporomandibular disorders (>3 months) were included. At enrollment, subjects were randomly assigned into two groups: (1) osteopathic manipulative treatment group (20 female patients) and (2) osteopathy in the cranial field group (20 female patients). Examination was performed at baseline (E0) and at the end of the last treatment (E1), consisting of subjective pain intensity with the Visual Analog Scale, Helkimo Index and SF-36 Health Survey. Subjects had five treatments, once a week. 36 subjects completed the study (33.7 ± 10.3 y). RESULTS: Patients in both groups showed significant reduction in Visual Analog Scale score (osteopathic manipulative treatment group: p = 0.001; osteopathy in the cranial field group: p< 0.001), Helkimo Index (osteopathic manipulative treatment group: p = 0.02; osteopathy in the cranial field group: p = 0.003) and a significant improvement in the SF-36 Health Survey - subscale "Bodily Pain" (osteopathic manipulative treatment group: p = 0.04; osteopathy in the cranial field group: p = 0.007) after five treatments (E1). All subjects (n = 36) also showed significant improvements in the above named parameters after five treatments (E1): Visual Analog Scale score (p< 0.001), Helkimo Index (p< 0.001), SF-36 Health Survey - subscale "Bodily Pain" (p = 0.001). The differences between the two groups were not statistically significant for any of the three target parameters. CONCLUSION: Both therapeutic modalities had similar clinical results. The findings of this pilot trial support the use of osteopathic manipulative treatment and osteopathy in the cranial field as an effective treatment modality in patients with temporomandibular disorders. The positive results in both treatment groups should encourage further research on osteopathic manipulative treatment and osteopathy in the cranial field and support the importance of an interdisciplinary collaboration in patients with temporomandibular disorders. Implications for rehabilitation Temporomandibular disorders are the second most prevalent musculoskeletal condition with a negative impact on physical and psychological factors. There are a variety of options to treat temporomandibular disorders. This pilot study demonstrates the reduction of pain, the improvement of temporomandibular joint dysfunction and the positive impact on quality of life after osteopathic manipulative treatment and osteopathy in the cranial field. Our findings support the use of osteopathic manipulative treatment and osteopathy in the cranial field and should encourage further research on osteopathic manipulative treatment and osteopathy in the cranial field in patients with temporomandibular disorders. Rehabilitation experts should consider osteopathic manipulative treatment and osteopathy in the cranial field as a beneficial treatment option for temporomandibular disorders.
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HVLA techniques applied to the jaw and cervical spine demonstrated efficacy in reducing pain and improving maximum mouth opening.
“HVLA techniques applied to the jaw [24,29,31] and cervical spine [21,23,25–27] demonstrated efficacy in reducing pain and improving MMO.”
Jaw HVLA combined with myofascial release yielded significant pain relief and increased maximum mouth opening, both immediately after treatment and at 2 months follow-up.
“Jaw HVLA combined with myofascial release [24,31], yielded significant pain relief and increased MMO, both immediately after treatment and at 2 months follow-up [24].”
Oliveira-Campelo et al. and Gesslbauer et al. reported immediate symptom relief and increased mandibular range of motion immediately after treatment.
“The studies by Oliveira-Campelo et al. [26] and Gesslbauer et al. [31] reported immediate symptom relief and increased mandibular range of motion immediately after treatment.”
Several studies emphasized that manual therapy was performed by professionals with specialized training, reinforcing the notion that clinical expertise is critical to achieving effective results.
“Several studies [21,22,25,26,29,31,34] emphasized that manual therapy was performed by professionals with specialized training, reinforcing the notion that clinical expertise is critical to achieving effective results.”
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Influential
- Authors
- Gesslbauer, C., Vavti, N., Keilani, M., Mickel, M., & Crevenna, R.
- Affiliations
- Medical University of Vienna (AT)
- Corresponding author
- Crevenna, Richard
- Venue
- Disability and Rehabilitation
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2016-12-28
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 631-636
- ISSN
- 0963-8288 (ISSN-L)
- 1464-5165
- OpenAlex
- W2564808942
- Semantic Scholar
- 91767b8e0d68776fabfa380f042e9e47cc5366b1
- Cited by
- 34
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 2
- FWCI
- 0.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Disability and Rehabilitation (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Complementary and Manual Therapy › Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Myofascial pain diagnosis and treatment
- Health Sciences › Dentistry › Orthodontics › Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
- Keywords
- temporomandibular disorders, osteopathic manipulative treatment, cranial osteopathy, osteopathy, pain intensity, Helkimo index, SF-36, quality of life, musculoskeletal pain, treatment effectiveness comparison, female patients, complementary therapy, manual therapy
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Disability Evaluation, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Osteopathic Medicine, Pain Measurement, Pilot Projects, Quality of Life, Temporomandibular Joint Disorders, Treatment Outcome, Manipulation, Osteopathic, Musculoskeletal Pain
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