When someone’s jaw joint is too damaged to fix with regular treatment, doctors can replace it with an artificial joint. This study looked at 36 patients who had this surgery and tracked how well they recovered. The big discovery: patients who started physical therapy within the first month after surgery and kept doing it for at least 6 months had much better results. They could open their mouths wider, had less pain, and could eat better foods compared to people who didn’t do early physical therapy. The improvements were especially noticeable in the first 6 months after surgery.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether starting physical therapy early after artificial jaw joint surgery and doing it for a long time helps people recover better and use their jaw normally again
  • Who participated: 36 patients (mostly women, average age 50) who had artificial jaw joint surgery between 2020 and 2023. Researchers followed them for about 2 years to see how well they recovered
  • Key finding: Patients who did physical therapy starting within the first month after surgery and continued for at least 6 months had significantly better chewing ability at the 1-year mark. They also showed faster improvements in the first 6 months compared to those who didn’t do early physical therapy
  • What it means for you: If you’re having jaw joint replacement surgery, starting physical therapy right away and sticking with it for several months appears to help you recover better and get back to eating normally sooner. However, this is based on a small study, so talk to your doctor about what’s right for your situation

The Research Details

Researchers looked back at records of 36 patients who had artificial jaw joint surgery at their clinic between July 2020 and December 2023. They divided the patients into two groups: those who started physical therapy within the first month after surgery and did it for at least 6 months, and those who didn’t do early physical therapy or didn’t stick with it. They measured three main things: how wide patients could open their mouths, how much pain they had, and how well they could chew and eat different foods. They checked these measurements at different times after surgery, with the longest follow-up being about 2 years.

The researchers used standard measurement tools that doctors use all the time. For pain, they used a simple scale where patients point to how much pain they have. For chewing ability, they used a special questionnaire that asks about eating different types of foods. They compared the results between the two groups to see if early physical therapy made a difference.

This study design is important because it looks at real patients in a real clinic setting, not just in a lab. By comparing two groups of patients who had the same surgery but different physical therapy approaches, the researchers could see what actually helps people recover better. The long follow-up period (up to 2 years) is also valuable because it shows how people do over time, not just right after surgery

This study has some strengths: it followed patients for a long time, used standard measurement tools that doctors trust, and looked at multiple ways to measure recovery (mouth opening, pain, and chewing ability). However, there are some limitations to keep in mind: the study is relatively small (36 patients), mostly women participated so results may not apply equally to men, and researchers didn’t randomly assign people to groups, so there could be other differences between the groups we don’t know about

What the Results Show

Overall, all patients who had the surgery improved significantly. On average, patients could open their mouths about 10 millimeters wider than before surgery, their pain decreased by about 5 points on a 10-point scale, and their ability to eat improved. These improvements were statistically significant, meaning they’re very unlikely to have happened by chance.

The most important finding was about chewing ability: at the 1-year mark, patients who did early and prolonged physical therapy could eat much better than those who didn’t. The early physical therapy group showed faster and bigger improvements between 1 and 6 months after surgery. This is the critical recovery window where physical therapy appears to make the biggest difference.

For mouth opening and pain relief, the early physical therapy group also did better, but the differences weren’t quite large enough to be statistically certain. However, the trend still favored the group that did early physical therapy. This suggests that while the chewing improvement is the clearest benefit, physical therapy likely helps with other aspects of recovery too.

The study also showed that the timing of physical therapy matters. Starting within the first month after surgery was important—waiting longer didn’t work as well. Additionally, sticking with physical therapy for at least 6 months was necessary to see the best results. Patients who stopped early or didn’t do it consistently didn’t improve as much

This research supports what doctors have suspected for a while: that physical therapy after joint surgery helps people recover better. However, this is one of the first studies to specifically look at how important it is to start physical therapy early and keep doing it for a long time after artificial jaw joint surgery. The findings fit with what we know about other joint surgeries, where early movement and rehabilitation generally lead to better outcomes

The study is relatively small with only 36 patients, which means the results might not apply to everyone. Most participants were women (94%), so we’re not sure if men would have the same results. The researchers didn’t randomly assign people to do physical therapy or not—they just looked at who happened to do it and who didn’t. This means there could be other differences between the groups that affected the results. For example, people who were more motivated might have been more likely to do physical therapy AND might have recovered better for other reasons. Finally, all patients were treated at one clinic, so results might be different at other hospitals with different surgical techniques or physical therapy programs

The Bottom Line

If you’re having artificial jaw joint surgery, strongly consider starting physical therapy within the first month after surgery and continuing it for at least 6 months. This appears to significantly improve your ability to eat and chew normally. Talk to your surgeon about what physical therapy program they recommend and make it a priority in your recovery plan. (Confidence level: Moderate—based on a small study, but results are clear)

This research is most relevant for people considering or scheduled for artificial jaw joint surgery. It’s also useful information for surgeons and physical therapists who work with these patients. If you have a damaged jaw joint that hasn’t improved with other treatments, this study suggests that surgery combined with early physical therapy could help you recover better. However, this doesn’t apply to people with minor jaw problems that can be treated without surgery

Most improvements happen in the first 6 months after surgery, with the biggest changes between months 1 and 6. By 1 year, you should see significant improvements in chewing ability if you’ve done physical therapy. Some improvements may continue beyond 1 year, but the most important recovery window is the first 6 months

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your jaw opening ability weekly by measuring how many fingers you can fit between your upper and lower teeth (normal is about 3-4 fingers). Also rate your chewing ability daily on a scale of 1-10 and note which foods you can eat
  • Set a daily reminder for your physical therapy exercises and log each session in the app. Create a food diary to track which foods become easier to eat as you progress, which provides motivation and shows real improvement
  • Monitor pain levels daily using a simple 1-10 scale and track mouth opening weekly. Set monthly goals for increasing the variety of foods you can eat. Share this data with your physical therapist to adjust your therapy plan as needed

This research describes outcomes from a specific surgical procedure and rehabilitation approach. It is not medical advice. If you have jaw problems or are considering jaw joint surgery, consult with a qualified oral surgeon or dentist who can evaluate your individual situation. The results of this study may not apply to everyone, and your recovery may differ based on your age, overall health, and other factors. Always follow your surgeon’s specific recommendations for post-operative care and physical therapy.