A mobilization regimen to prevent mandibular hypomobility in irradiated patients : an analysis and comparison of two techniques

2007

Radiotherapy, when used in head and neck cancer treatment, can produce side effects in the patients, such as decreased salivary production, xerostomia, opportunistic infections, radiation caries, dysphagia, local discomfort and the limitation of mouth opening. The aim of this study was to evaluate the amplitude of mouth opening in patients before and immediately after the completion of radiotherapy, comparing the effectiveness of two physiotherapy exercises. The irradiated sites included the masticatory muscles. The results demonstrated that there were no statistically significant differences between the two instituted exercises; however there was a trend towards better clinical results in …