Osteopathic Correction in Treating Patients With Tension Headache Symptom Against TMJ Dysfunction

Abstract

Patients may have headache due to pathological issues occurring in the cervical spine and resulting in compression of the vertebral artery passing nearby. This comes along with disturbed blood supply to the brain. The aim of this study is to offer reliable grounds, and evaluate osteopathic correction when treating headache of tension (HAT) caused by a dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). A comprehensive examination involved 26 patients aged 18 to 65. The study outcomes allow recommending to include soft osteopathic techniques in the set of therapeutic measures. In order to make osteopathic treatment available for patients with HAT caused by the TMJ dysfunction, computed tomography (CT) of the TMJ and cranio-cervical junction is a typical choice. Given the high efficiency of the combined work of an osteopath joining effort with an orthopedic dentist and an orthodontist who has a good command of neuromuscular correction approaches, it appears a feasible option to use such combined treatment in patients with the TMJ dysfunction-caused HAT. To improve the quality of osteopathic correction and maintain the positive outcome we recommend using a supporting teeth protector — an elastopositioning corrector or TMJ trainer. This enables to decompress the TMJ.