Study Type: Case Series
Level of Evidence: Level 4
Clinical Summary: 14 adult patients with TMD symptoms were treated with Activator protocol and an additional suprahyoid muscle treatment. The average reduction in pain as rated by the patient was 6.9 points on 0-10 Verbal Numeric Pain Scale (MCID 2-3). All patients showed reduction of TMD symptoms, however the lack of specific inclusion criteria, high variability in number of patient visits, and the fact that most of the patients were already under care for TMD calls into question the validity of the results.
Overall Quality: Low- Further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate.
Why: No specific inclusion criteria, no specific time period or number of treatments established, and potential conflict of interest as one of the authors is currently and has previously been professionally affiliated with Activator Methods International.
Apply This: If treating TMD, myofascial release, trigger-point therapy, and impulses from an Activator or similar instrument applied to the suprahyoid muscles may increase the effect of treatment.
Study Author(s): Steven Pavia DC, Rebecca Fischer DC, Richard Roy DC
Publication Date: 8/19/2015
Published in: Journal of Chiropractic Medicine
Evidence-Informed Practitioner 