How do I manage a patient with trismus?

The evaluation and treatment of trismus should be completed by a therapist who is trained in the differential understanding of muscular trismus pain in comparison temporomandibular joint pain. 

The use of individualized treatment plan based on clinical findings, case history, imaging and pain scales are utilized in trismus assessments. The daily trismus pain assessment is utilized to teach our patient to understand his or her pain based on location.

The pain scale includes 9 locations to help us treat our patient. The locations should be notated if it is on the left or right side as well as interior or exterior.  

The nine locations to include in your patient’s daily trismus pain assessment are:

1. Lips
2. Corner of the lips
3. Gums
4. Tongue
5. Buccinator
6. Masseter
7. Temporalis
8. TMJ
9. Teeth

Each of these locations should be rated on a 10-point pain scale the best and the worst time during treatment and intervention exercises. In our clinic we encourage our patient to understand each of these locations in his or her oral cavity and teach them the differences. We believe that through empowering the patient and family optimal outcomes are achieved.