Introduction: Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a multifactorial disease. For this reason, it is difficult to obtain an accurate and correct diagnosis. In this context, conservative treatments, including therapeutic exercises classified as stretching, relaxation, coordination, strengthening and endurance, are oftentimes prescribed. Objective: Thus, the aim of the present article was to conduct a literature review concerning the types of exercises available and the efficacy for the treatment of muscular TMD. Methods: The review included researches carried out between 2000 and 2010, indexed on Web of Science, PubMed, LILACS and BBO. Moreover, the following keywords were used: Exercise, physical therapy, facial pain, myofascial pain syndrome, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome. Studies that did not consider the subject "TMD and exercises", used post-surgery exercises and did not use validated criteria for the diagnosis of TMD (RDC/TMD) were not included. Results: The results comprised seven articles which proved therapeutic exercises to be effective for the treatment of muscular TMD. However, these studies are seen as limited, since therapeutic exercises were not applied alone, but in association with other conservative procedures. In addition, they present some drawbacks such as: Small samples, lack of control group and no detailed exercise description which should have included intensity, repetition, frequency and duration. Conclusion: Although therapeutic exercises are considered effective in the management of muscular TMD, the development of randomized clinical trials is necessary, since many existing studies are still based on the clinical experience of professionals.Keywords: Temporomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome. Myofascial pain syndromes. Physical therapy modalities. Exercise.Introdução: a disfunção temporomandibular (DTM) é uma doença multifatorial, geralmente com evolução benigna. Por esse motivo, é difícil a obtenção de um diagnóstico inicial preciso e correto, levando a um consenso na prescrição de tratamentos conservadores, entre eles, os exercícios terapêuticos, que são classificados em exercícios de alongamento, relaxamento, coordenação, fortalecimento e resistência. Objetivo: o objetivo desse estudo foi realizar uma revisão de literatura dos trabalhos que apresentam os tipos de exercícios disponíveis e sua eficácia para o tratamento das DTM musculares. Métodos: foi feito um levantamento bibliográfico, de 2000 a 2010, nas bases se dados Web of Science, PubMed, LILACS e BBO, cruzando os seguintes descritores: exercise, physical therapy, facial pain, myofascial pain syndrome e temporomandibular joint disfunction syndrome. Foram excluídos os trabalhos que não consideravam o tema exercícios e DTM, utilizavam exercícios pós-cirúrgicos e que não utilizavam critérios validados para o diagnóstico da DTM (RDC/TMD). Resultados: resultaram sete artigos, que mostraram que os exercícios terapêuticos foram efetivos para o tratamento de DTM muscular. No entanto, uma das limitações desses estu...