Isotonic exercises and relaxing techniques in individuals with temporomandibular dysfunction.

Objective : The present study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics of volunteers with temporomandibular dysfunction before and after performing exercises with those of volunteers who only followed self-care guidelines. Methods : A parallel randomized controlled trial was performed. Individuals included underwent the intervention twice a week for one month, while the control group only followed self-care guidelines. Results : Twenty-three volunteers participated; however, during the study, four dropped out. At the end of the study, the degree of depression decreased in the volunteers in the intervention group. Conclusion : The level of pain decreased, but the improvement was not statistically significant and, therefore, could not be attributed to the intervention. It can be concluded that the strategies used to reduce pain in this study were not sufficient for clinical improvement in volunteers with temporomandibular dysfunction.