Tinnitus

tinnitus - Development and Treatment Options

As part of a case study during my Master's degree in osteopathy at the School of Health Sciences in Fribourg, I explored the topic of tinnitus. During my first internship, one case made a particularly strong impression on me. It involved a patient who was experiencing somatic tinnitus. She described a one-sided tone in her ear that was partly triggered by certain head positions or by stress. After just a single osteopathic treatment, the patient was completely free of symptoms.

Do you also know the feeling of a bothersome sound in your ear? Then keep reading here!

First, a clarification of terms: What is somatic tinnitus?

tinnitus describes the subjective perception of a sound or noise in your ear that is not generated externally, most often described as ringing or buzzing. Worldwide, 15–20% of the population is affected by this phenomenon. It is well known that this constant sound in the ear leads to a significant reduction in quality of life for 1–3% of those affected. 

Causes of somatic tinnitus and its symptoms

There are various causes of tinnitus. The somatic tinnitus described here originates from dysfunctions of the musculoskeletal system. This means that during an ENT evaluation with your doctor, no disease or injury to the auditory pathway is found.

Through neurological, myogenic, vascular, and anatomical connections between the temporomandibular joint (specifically the temporalis muscle, masseter muscle, lateral pterygoid muscle, and sphenomandibular ligament), the craniocervical junction, and the shoulder girdle muscles with the ear or the auditory pathway, functional disorders in these areas can lead to somatic tinnitus. Somatic tinnitus is often accompanied by pain in the regions mentioned above or is modulated by certain movements.

Henry Vandyke Carter creator QS:P170,Q955620 Henry Gray creator QS:P170,Q40319, Gray907, marked as public domain, details on Wikimedia Commons

A typical clinical presentation of somatic tinnitus looks like this:
Perception of unilateral tinnitus without any ENT findings and without a specific trigger. Usually, pain also occurs in the temporomandibular joint or in the neck and shoulder girdle area. Your somatic tinnitus may also be modulated by certain head positions and/or by stress.

Henry Vandyke Carter creator QS:P170,Q955620 Henry Gray creator QS:P170,Q40319, Gray915, marked as public domain, details on Wikimedia Commons

The role of osteopathy and Physiotherapy in the treatment of somatic tinnitus

Through a thorough examination followed by treatment of the affected areas, we can help you with somatic tinnitus here at BodyLab osteopathy and Physiotherapy.
Using myofascial techniques, mobilizations, and thrusts (high-velocity low-amplitude thrusts), we help restore the physiological function of the affected structures. Consequently, this can cause your tinnitus to disappear.

HenryHenry Vandyke Carter creator QS:P170,Q955620 Henry Gray creator QS:P170,Q40319, Gray906, marked as public domain, details on Wikimedia Commons

An important part of your treatment also involves education and instruction about the symptom and trigger mechanisms behind your tinnitus. Thanks to their extensive knowledge of how your body works and interacts, the therapists at BodyLab Zurich can provide essential guidance, helping you become aware of what triggers the issue and showing you how to counteract it.

Research

According to current studies, clinical examinations and treatments should primarily focus on the head, neck, jaw, and shoulder girdle areas, as well as adjacent muscles, structures, and fascia, paying special attention to the cervicocranial junction, the muscles of mastication, and the sphenomandibular ligament (SML).
The prevalence of temporomandibular joint dysfunctions in somatic tinnitus patients is around 30%.

If your somatic tinnitus and its related dysfunction are diagnosed correctly, osteopathic or physiotherapeutic treatment can lead to successful results.
However, classifying, examining, and treating tinnitus remains a debated topic. NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) is currently working on developing a guideline for "tinnitus assessment and management," which is expected to be published in 2020.

You can find more on this on our tinnitus page.

This blog post was written by our intern Anita Jost (MSc Ost in training). If you are interested, you can find the complete study by Anita Jost, including the bibliography, at this link.

Whenever you need us, we are here for you!

Your BodyLab team, your specialists for somatic tinnitus

osteopathy and Physiotherapy | Rehabilitation and Training

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Cover Image Credit

Henry Vandyke Carter creator QS:P170,Q955620 Henry Gray creator QS:P170,Q40319, Gray907, marked as public domain, details on Wikimedia Commons