Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Efficacy of Biofeedback-Based Treatments for Temporomandibular Disorders

  • Published:
Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Bibliographic searches identified 14 controlled and uncontrolled outcome evaluations of biofeedback-based treatments for temporomandibular disorders published since 1978. This literature includes two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of each of three types of biofeedback treatment: (1) surface electromyographic (SEMG) training of the masticatory muscles, (2) SEMG training combined with adjunctive cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, and (3) biofeedback-assisted relaxation training (BART). A detailed review of these six RCTs, supplemented with information from non-RCT findings, was conducted to determine the extent to which each type of intervention met treatment efficacy criteria promulgated by the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB). We conclude that SEMG training with adjunctive CBT is an efficacious treatment for temporomandibular disorders and that both SEMG training as the sole intervention and BART are probably efficacious treatments. We discuss guidelines for designing and reporting research in this area and suggest possible directions for future studies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brooke, R. I., & Stenn, P. G. (1983). Myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome-how effective is biofeedback-assisted relaxation training? In J. J. Bonica, et al. (Eds.), Advances in pain research and therapy (Vol. 5, pp. 809–812). New York: Raven Press.

  • Crider, A. B., & Glaros, A. G. (1999). A meta-analysis of EMG biofeedback treatment of temporomandibular disorders. Journal of Orofacial Pain, 13, 29–37.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crockett, D. J., Foreman, M. E., Alden, L., & Blasberg, B. (1986). A comparison of treatment modes in the management of myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 11, 279–291.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahlstrom, L., & Carlsson, S. G. (1984). Treatment of mandibular dysfunction: The clinical usefulness of biofeedback in relation to splint therapy. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 11, 277–284.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dahlstrom, L., Carlsson, S. G., Gale, E. N., & Jansson, T. G. (1984). Clinical and electromyographic effects of biofeedback training in mandibular dysfunction. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 9, 37–47.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dalen, K., Ellertsen, B., Espelid, I., & Gronningsaeter, A. (1986). EMG biofeedback in the treatment of myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome. Acta Odontology Scandinavia, 44, 279–284.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dohrmann, R. J., & Laskin, D. M. (1978). An evaluation of electromyographic biofeedback in the treatment of myofascial pain-dysfunction syndrome. Journal of the American Dental Association, 96, 656–662.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dworkin, R. H., Turk, D. C., Farrar, J. T., Haythornthwaite, J. A., Jensen, M. P., Katz, N. P., et al. (2005). Core outcome measures for chronic pain clinical trials: IMMPACT recommendations. Pain, 113, 9–19 .

  • Dworkin, S. F., & LeResche, L. (Eds.). (1992). Research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders: Review, criteria, examinations and specifications, critique. Journal of Craniomandibular Disorders: Facial and Oral Pain, 6, 301–355.

    Google Scholar 

  • Efficacy Task Force. (2002). Template for developing guidelines for the evaluation of the clinical efficacy of psychophysiological interventions. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 27, 273–281.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fricton, J. R., & Schiffman, E. L. (1995). Epidemiology of temporomandibular disorders. In J. R. Fricton & R. Dubner (Eds.), Advances in pain research and therapy: Orofacial pain and temporomandibular disorders (Vol. 21, pp. 1–14). New York: Raven Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Funch, D. P., & Gale, E. N. (1984). Biofeedback and relaxation therapy for chronic temporomandibular joint pain: Predicting successful outcomes. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 52, 928–935.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gardea, M. A., Gatchel, R. J., & Mishra, K. D. (2001). Long-term efficacy of biobehavioral treatment of temporomandibular disorders. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 24, 341–359.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glaros, A. G., & Glass, E. G. (1993). Temporomandibular disorders. In R. J. Gatchel & E. B. Blanchard (Eds.), Psychophysiological disorders: Research and clinical applications (pp. 299–356). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glaros, A. G., & Lausten, L. (2003). Temporomandibular disorders. In M. S. Schwartz & F. Andrasik (Eds.), Biofeedback: A practitioner's guide (3rd ed., pp. 349–368). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greene, C. S., & Laskin, D. M. (2000). Temporomandibular disorders: Moving from a dentally based to a medically based model. Journal of Dental Research, 79, 1736–1739.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hijzen, T. H., Slangen, J. L., & Van Houweligen, H. C. (1986). Subjective, clinical and EMG effects of biofeedback and splint treatment. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 13, 529–539.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kasman, G. S., Cram, J. R., & Wolf, S. L. (1997). Clinical applications in surface electromyography. Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewinsohn, P. M., Antonuccio, D. O., Steinmety, J. L., & Teri, L. (1984). The coping with depression course. Eugene, OR: Castalia.

    Google Scholar 

  • McNeill, C., Mohl, N. D., Rugh, J. D., & Tanaka, T. T. (1990). Temporomandibular disorders: Diagnosis, management, education, and research. Journal of the American Dental Association, 120, 253–263.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mishra, K. D., Gatchel, R. J., Gardea, M. A. (2000). The relative efficacy of three cognitive-behavioral treatment approaches to temporomandibular disorders. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 23, 293–309.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Okeson, J. P. (1998). Management of temporomandibular disorders and occlusion (4th ed.). St. Louis: C.V. Mosby.

  • Olson, R. E., & Malow, R. M. (1987). Effects of biofeedback and psychotherapy on patients with myofascial pain dysfunction who are nonresponsive to conventional treatments. Rehabilitation Psychology, 32, 195–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenthal, R. (1984). Meta-analytic procedures for social research. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stenn, P. G., Mothersill, K. J., & Brooke, R. I. (1979). Biofeedback and a cognitive behavioral approach to treatment of myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome. Behavior Therapy, 10, 29–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Syrop, S. B. (2002). Initial management of temporomandibular disorders. Dentistry Today, 21, 52–57.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Turk, D. C., Dworkin, R. H., Allen, R. R., Bellamy, N., Brandenburg, N., Carr, D. B., et al. (2003). Core outcome domains for chronic pain clinical trials: IMMPACT recommendations. Pain, 106, 337–345.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Turk, D. C., Rudy, T. E., Kubinski, J. A., Zaki, H. S., & Greco, C. M. (1996). Dysfunctional patients with temporomandibular disorders: Evaluating the efficacy of a tailored treatment protocol. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 136–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turk, D. C., Zaki, D. S., & Rudy, T. E. (1993). Effects of intraoral appliance and biofeedback/stress management alone and in combination in treating pain and depression in patients with temporomandibular disorders. Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, 70, 158–164.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts

    Andrew Crider

  2. Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, Kansas City, Missouri

    Alan G. Glaros

  3. California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University, San Diego, California

    Richard N. Gevirtz

Authors
  1. Andrew Crider
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alan G. Glaros
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Richard N. Gevirtz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrew Crider.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Crider, A., Glaros, A.G. & Gevirtz, R.N. Efficacy of Biofeedback-Based Treatments for Temporomandibular Disorders. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 30, 333–345 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-005-8420-5

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-005-8420-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation