Effectiveness of Siddha Manual Therapy in TMJ-Related Orofacial and Cervicobrachial Pain: A Prospective Case Evaluation

Abstract

This case report presents the clinical outcome of Siddha manual therapy combined with targeted exercises in a 35-year-old female experiencing right-sided cheek pain radiating to the neck and right arm, restricted jaw movement, and recurrent headaches with priorly diagnosed Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) causing pain and stiffness in the small joints of the hands, which appeared to aggravate the temporomandibular symptoms. Over a three-week treatment period, she underwent a Siddha-based Chakrasiddh protocol. The sessions focused on gentle manual techniques for TMJ and cervical alignment, stimulation of specific Varmam points related to facial and cervical nerve pathways, and corrective exercises to restore balanced muscle activity pre and post-therapy pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Maximal Mouth Opening (MMO) was measured to evaluate mandibular mobility, and functional impact was recorded using a TMJ-specific disability questionnaire. Following therapy, significant reductions were observed in pain intensity, radiating symptoms, jaw clicking, and headache frequency. The patient also reported reduced stiffness in the cervical region and improved mobility in the small joints of the hands, accompanied by reduction in inflammatory markers associated with RA. This case suggests that a Siddha protocol integrating manual Varmam stimulation, therapeutic exercises, and lifestyle awareness may be an effective integrative approach for managing TMJ-related orofacial and cervicobrachial pain, with additional benefits in patients with coexisting inflammatory joint conditions such as RA. However, larger clinical studies are required to validate its therapeutic value.