Functional exercises of the temporomandibular joint of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy

After radiotherapy, patients are likely to experience symptoms of mandibular temporal joint dysfunction, such as difficulty opening the mouth, chewing, and swallowing, which will affect their normal life. To prevent mandibular temporal joint dysfunction, nasopharyngeal cancer patients can perform mandibular temporal joint functional exercises.

1. Mouth opening exercise: Use a round plastic bottle cap or a smooth cork, place it between the upper and lower incisors and bite them, do this 4-5 times a day, 10-15 minutes each time, and persist for a long time.

2. Massage the temporomandibular joint: The temporomandibular joint is the joint that connects the maxilla, mandible and muscles, and can produce actions such as chewing, swallowing, and expression. During the operation, the patient can use the thumb or index finger to massage the intersection of the ear root at the outer lower edge of the auricle and the posterior edge of the mandibular ramus, 10 minutes each time, 3 times a day.

3. Oral movement: including lip movement, lip movement, mouth shape maintenance movement, tongue movement, oral joint movement, etc. Patients can chew gum to exercise. At the beginning, they can practice in front of the mirror. When practicing, they should pay attention to the coordination of oral movements and exercise oral muscle strength and corresponding joints.

4. Massage the face: The patient can rub the face with the palm or fingers for 3-5 minutes until the face feels warm and comfortable.

5. Swallowing exercises: Patients can strengthen the closing of the throat and glottis to exercise the oral and laryngeal muscles. For example, they can strengthen the swallowing action, raise the chin when swallowing food to help swallowing, or practice pronouncing the word "yi".