Postrehabilitation Considerations for Individuals with Temporomandibular Disorders

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) encompass a multitude of signs and symptoms that arise from dysfunction of the muscles of mastication (eating), temporomandibular joint tissues, and associated anatomical structures. TMDs are recognized as a significant cause of orofacial pain, presenting in approximately 5-12% of the general population. TMDs are also common in sports with an estimated lifetime prevalence ranging from 11.7 to 77.8% of the athletic population. Basketball, handball, hockey, water polo, and swimming carry the highest risk. Given the prevalence of TMDs in the athletic and nonathletic population, there is a high likelihood that strength and conditioning (S&C) specialists will encounter individuals with TMDs. Thus, this article aims to provide the S&C specialist with an overview of the pathology and the management of TMDs with an emphasis on postrehabilitation exercise programming and self-management.