Effects of Jaw Exerciser and Face Massage Roller Along with Conventional Therapy in Reducing Pain and Improving Mouth Opening in Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction in a College Student

Abstract

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) is commonly seen in young adults and is often associated with pain, limited mouth opening, and difficulty in daily functions. While conventional physiotherapy forms the primary line of treatment, additional modalities such as jaw exercisers, facial massage rollers, ultrasound therapy, and joint mobilization may further improve outcomes. A 21-year-old female college student reported with pain on the left side of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) along with restricted mouth opening. She was treated using conventional physiotherapy along with adjunct interventions, including a jaw exerciser, facial massage roller, ultrasound therapy, and mobilization techniques. The patient followed a 4-week rehabilitation program consisting of moist heat application, TMJ mobility and strengthening exercises, joint mobilization, sessions with a jaw exerciser, use of a facial massage roller, and ultrasound therapy. There was a notable reduction in pain, with visual analog scale scores decreasing from 7/10 to 2/10. Mouth opening improved from 28 mm to 40.3 mm. The patient also reported better ease in chewing and speaking. In addition, mandibular function showed improvement, as reflected by a reduction in the mandibular function impairment questionnaire score from 38 to 18, indicating decreased discomfort, improved relaxation, and increased confidence during jaw movements. This combined treatment approach showed positive outcomes in reducing pain and improving mouth opening in a patient with TMD. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings.