Yoga as Complementary Therapy for Temporomandibular Disorders: A Structured Module Development and Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a condition that affects the temporomandibular joint, jaw muscles, and surrounding tissues. The major signs and symptoms of TMD include chronic pain and reduced range of jaw movement, adversely impacting the quality of life. Psychological factors, such as stress, anxiety, and depression, contribute to the development and exacerbation of TMD. Yoga, an effective mind-body intervention for physical and psychological symptoms, lacks a standardized module for TMD patients.

OBJECTIVE

The present study aims to develop, validate, and pilot test a yoga module for patients with TMD.

METHODS

A literature review was conducted using classical yoga texts and databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, with keywords such as 'yoga', 'orofacial pain', 'stress', and 'Pranayama'. Based on this, a preliminary yoga module was designed and validated by 40 yoga experts using Lawshe's Content Validity Ratio (CVR), calculated for each practice, and pilot testing was conducted for feasibility.

RESULTS

The proposed yoga module, consisting of 35 practices, was reviewed by yoga experts. Practices with a CVR ≥0.29 were included in the final yoga module; 29 practices were retained, and 6 were excluded. Pilot testing was conducted on 20 patients with TMD over one month, demonstrating significant reductions in pain (P = .02), perceived stress (P = .01), and improved mouth opening (P = .04). 20 patients found the validated yoga module feasible and easy to practice, with no adverse effects reported.

CONCLUSION

The validated yoga module supported initial effectiveness in patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD). These findings support the need for larger randomized controlled trials with broader patient demographics and longer follow-up periods to confirm its potential as a complementary therapy for patients with TMD.

KEYWORDS: yoga module, validation, temporomandibular disorder, complementary therapy, orofacial pain.