Peloid Therapy in Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction

Overview

This prospective, single-group clinical study will evaluate whether local peloid therapy improves pain and jaw function in adults with temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Participants will receive peloid therapy applied to the temporomandibular joint region and masticatory muscles for 20 minutes per session, 5 days per week, for 2 weeks. Pain and functional outcomes will be measured at baseline and at the end of treatment using validated clinical scales, including the Jaw Functional Limitation Scale-8, visual analog scale pain scores, Fonseca index, maximum mouth opening, and secondary otalgia assessment.

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction is associated with pain, impaired chewing, restricted jaw function, and, in some patients, referred otalgia. Conservative treatment options are commonly used as first-line management, but the clinical evidence for some physical therapy modalities remains limited. Peloid therapy is a local thermotherapeutic intervention used in balneotherapy and physical medicine. It may provide analgesic and muscle-relaxing effects through superficial heat and local tissue responses. However, prospective data evaluating its clinical effect in temporomandibular joint dysfunction are limited. This study is designed to assess changes in jaw-related functional limitation and pain after a standardized 2-week course of local peloid therapy in adults diagnosed with temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Functional status, pain intensity, mouth opening, symptom severity, and secondary otalgia will be assessed before and after treatment using standardized clinical measures. The study may provide additional evidence on the role of peloid therapy as a conservative supportive treatment option for temporomandibular joint dysfunction.