Table 4 Active Physical Therapy instruction form for patients
From: Orthognathic surgery and temporomandibular joint symptoms
Instructions for active physical therapy (Yonsei Protocol) | |
|---|---|
It has been about 2Â weeks after undergoing your jaw surgery. The purpose of this active physical therapy is to help your facial musculatures and jaws adapt into a new position from the surgery. Please follow the instructions in order to recover your original jaw movement and stable result. | |
1. | Open your mouth as big as possible : Repeat 3 times |
A. | During the opening, check the lower incisal midline and do not allow laterally |
B. | deviated movement. |
C. | Close your mouth and lower tooth must be positioned into the splint without gap. If lower teeth are not positioned into the splint, try to close gap by pushing the jaw with your hands. |
2. | Move your lower jaw anteriorly : Repeat 3 times. From the original position, move your lower jaw anteriorly and move back to its original position. Check the midline of the lower teeth and do not allow laterally deviated movement. |
3. | Move your lower jaw to the left side : Repeat 3 times. |
4. | Move your lower jaw to the right side : Repeat 3 times. |
5. | Above instruction is 1Â cycle. Please follow the instruction in order. |
6. | You have to repeat above physical therapy protocol for 1Â hour. |
7. | Then, you have to fix the lower jaw to upper jaw for 2Â hours. |
8. | During the physical therapy, training elastics must be kept in the instructed site. |
9. | Please avoid relatively hard food and be careful not to break the splint. |
The splint is removed after 1 to 2Â weeks of physical therapy, depending on the progess. It is not easy, but please be patient until finishing the physical therapy. This physical therapy is continued about 1Â month and this therapy makes stable functional results. | |
Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Dental Hospital, Yonsei Medical Center | |