Cervical and Masticatory Somatosensory System

Tinnitus can be influenced by altered somatosensory input from the cervical spine or temporomandibular area. Once this influence is diagnosed, treatment can be directed by a multidisciplinary team to the cervical spine, masticatory system, or dental area. Several studies have been published more consistently about somatosensory tinnitus approaches. Most of them include techniques that are mainly applied by a physiotherapist, a chiropractor, or an osteopath because the rationale for using these techniques in such patients is to normalize the altered somatosensory input produced by increased muscle tension or restricted movement in the upper cervical spine or temporomandibular joint. Specific techniques may decrease muscle tension and increase mobility and stability, thus restoring somatosensory input and decreasing tinnitus perception. The choice of specific techniques mostly depends on the dysfunction that is diagnosed in each patient. Therefore, somatosensory tinnitus management should be seen as a patient-centered therapy that should be tailored to the specific patient’s needs. In this chapter, we will discuss different approaches to treating somatosensory tinnitus, shedding light on the state of the art in treatments targeted at treating temporomandibular and cervical spine disorders.