Effects of therapeutic exercise and aerobic exercise programmes on pain, anxiety and oral health-related quality of life in patients with temporomandibular disorders

Background: Pain and anxiety contribute to decreasing quality of life related to oral health in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Evidence-based practice has shown that therapeutic and aerobic exercise programmes are adequate strategies for modifying these factors. Objective: To assess the effects of aerobic exercise on pain, anxiety and quality of life related to oral health in patients with TMD. Methods: Forty-five patients diagnosed with TMD were divided into three groups of 15 participants: a therapeutic exercise programme (G1, mean 26.9 ± 5.5 years), a therapeutic and aerobic exercise programme (G2, mean 26 ± 4.4 years) and an aerobic exercise programme (G3, mean 24.9 ± 3.4 years). Pain intensity was assessed using a numerical rating scale (NRS), anxiety level and quality of life related to oral health through GAD-7 and OHIP-14, respectively. These parameters were evaluated twice at baseline (T0a/T0b), ending 8-week intervention period (T1) and 8–12 weeks after ending intervention (T2). Results: NRS significantly decreased in G1 (mean difference T0a/T1 = 5.2, p ˂.001), G2 (mean difference T0a/T1 = 6.0, p ˂.001) and G3 (mean difference T0a/T1 = 2.2, p = 0.001). OHIP-14 significantly decreased in G1 (mean difference T0a/T1 = 13.5, p ˂.001) and G2 (mean difference T0a/T1 = 15.8, p ˂ 0.001) but not in G3 (mean difference T0a/T1 = 1.2, p = 0.55). There were no significant differences between groups regarding GAD-7. Between T1 and T2, there were no significant differences in variables. Conclusion: Therapeutic exercises and therapeutic excercises combined with aerobic exercise groups had a significant decrease in pain and oral health-related quality of life at 8 and 12 weeks. These decreases were not seen for the aerobic exercise group.