Isokinetic exercise management of temporomandibular joint clicking in young adults

Abstract

Temporomandibular joint clicking is frequently a sign of craniomandibular disorders, and the etiologic predisposing, initiating, and perpetuating factors must be considered in its management. The present study assesses the usefulness of isokinetic exercises in the treatment of temporomandibular joint clicking. At the end of a 6-month test period, 18 of 22 subjects (approximately 82%) with clicks no longer had clicking, but four subjects (approximately 18%) with bilateral reciprocal clicking did not lose their clicks. A number of proposals have been suggested in the past as an explanation of the cause of temporomandibular joint clicking, but the present study has shown that clicking in young adults is predominantly neuromuscular in origin and may be a reversible condition that can be treated successfully with a conservative exercise regimen.