OBJECTIVE: This project investigates the relationship between spinal adjustment and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain. DESIGN: Controlled pilot trial. SETTING: Private chiropractic practice. PATIENTS: Twelve (12) patients assessed by dentists in private practice as having TMJ syndrome, randomly assigned to a chiropractic group received weekly chiropractic adjustments for six weeks to correct cervical spine vertebral dysfunctions, and controls received weekly trigger point therapy to cervico-thoracic muscles for six weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: McGill Pain Questionnaire administered before and after the trial. RESULTS: Both groups demonstrated similar changes. Due to greater than anticipated reduction in pain in the trigger point therapy (control) group, the results were statistically the same using a Man-Whitney non-parametric test (p = 0.9025), however a subjective, graphical comparison of results suggests that spinal adjustment may have some superiority over the trigger point method. CONCLUSIONS: Further investigation is warranted, but future studies should involve a larger sample, sham treatment other than cervico-thoracic trigger point therapy, and a pain assessment tool specifically designed for TMJ symptoms.

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