Effect of temporomandibular joint exercises on mechanical low back pain: a preliminary randomized controlled study

Abstract Background Low back pain and temporomandibular Dysfunction (TMD) have a coexistence in clinical practice. To find the effect of temporomandibular exercises (TME) along with conventional physiotherapy in patients with mechanical low back pain on Pain, mobility and Disability. Methods In this randomized controlled trial, 25 participants with low back pain randomly assigned into two groups. Group A Received Conventional physiotherapy (Control group, n = 13) and Group B received conventional physiotherapy with TME (experimental group, n = 12) for 4 times/week for 2 weeks. Pain, Range of motion of Lumbar spine, and Oswestry disability index were assessed before and after the interventions in both groups. Statistical analysis was done considering 95% CI. Results Within groups analysis showed significant improvement on pain, lumbar ranges and disability (p < 0.001). When both groups were compared with each other, it showed statistically significant improvement in pain at activity and all lumbar spine ranges except lumbar extension (p = 0.3) more in group A than B. Whereas pain at rest (p = 0.65), and disability (p = 0.26) showed non-significant differences between two groups. Conclusion Participants having mechanical low back pain showed better results on pain an activity and range of motion when temporomandibular exercises were given along with conventional exercises. Hence patients with mechanical low back pain need to be assessed for TMD and its correction exercises can be added as routine treatment protocol. Further study is needed to make this generalized with larger samples. Trial registration This study was also registered under Clinical Trial Registry of India with the Registration number CTRI/2020/11/028982, registered on 09/11/2020.