Table 1.
Description of the massage and stretching exercises
Interventions | Description | Sets/duration |
---|---|---|
Massage |
Patient lying supine knees semi-flexed and head on pillow with proper height. |
Inspiration/Pause/Expiration: 3:3:3 seconds, five sets |
|
Diaphragmatic breathing training. |
|
|
Extra-oral: sliding, kneading, friction, and trigger points release (ischemic compression) with cream and emphasis on the masseter, anterior temporalis, and muscles of the neck as the upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid, bilaterally. |
Ischemic compression (maximum 60 seconds with 10-second rest between compressions), five sets |
|
Intra oral: sliding, trigger points release (ischemic compression), and circular and transverse friction, with glove, on the masticatory muscles, with emphasis on the masseter, bilaterally. |
|
Muscle stretching exercises |
Patient lying supine knees semi-flexed and head on pillow. |
Three sets of 30 seconds |
|
Masticatory muscles: Passive exercises with the help of the therapist (using gloves): elevators of the jaw (masseter, temporalis and medial pterygoid), retrusores (posterior temporal, digastric), lateral (contralateral lateral pterygoid) and circular movements of the jaw. |
|
|
|
Intervals between sets of 10 seconds |
|
Patient sitting, feet flat on the ground and spine aligned. |
|
Muscles of the head and cervical spine: Passive exercises with the help of the therapist: extensor (upper trapezius, levator scapulae, suboccipital), flexor (sternocleidomastoid and anterior scalene), lateral flexor (sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, middle and posterior scalenes, bilaterally), and rotators (upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid contralateral), bilateral. |