Predictors of pain reduction following a program of manual therapies for patients with temporomandibular disorders: A prospective observational study.

Background: Clinical guidelines recommend conservative treatment for the management of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), and manual therapy (MT) is commonly applied to reduce pain and improve function.

Objectives: To identify predictors of pain reduction and functional improvement following a program of manual therapies (MTP) in patients with TMD and develop a first screening tool that could be used in clinical practice to facilitate decision-making.

Design: A cohort of 102 adults with a diagnosis of TMD were treated with four weekly sessions within a MTP applied to craniomandibular structures.