Adding orofacial and tongue exercises to manual therapy for temporomandibular disorder
COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF OROFACIAL AND TONGUE EXERCISES APPLIED AS AN ADDITION TO MYOFUNCTIONAL TREATMENT IN TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DISORDERS ON PAIN, JOINT AND TONGUE FUNCTIONS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL
This trial will see if adding orofacial and tongue exercises to manual therapy helps reduce pain and improve jaw and tongue function in adults with temporomandibular disorder.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 48 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Ankara Medipol University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Ankara, ALTINDAG) |
| Trial ID | NCT07304557 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Adults with TMD will be randomized by sealed envelope to two groups: one group receives myofunctional/manual therapy alone and the other receives the same manual therapy plus targeted orofacial and tongue exercises. Treatments are delivered twice weekly for six weeks with assessments every two weeks, starting with baseline demographic and clinical measures. Pain will be measured with the Numerical Pain Scale, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, and algometry of masticatory muscles, alongside functional questionnaires and instrumental measures of tongue and jaw function. Safety and adherence will be monitored throughout the intervention period.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18–65 with a diagnosis of TMD meeting RDC/TMD Axis I Group Ia, Ib, or IIa who have not had neck or jaw physical therapy in the past three months and who are not pregnant and have no rheumatologic or major psychiatric conditions are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are pregnant, have rheumatologic disease affecting the TMJ, have a diagnosed psychiatric disorder, recent neck/jaw surgery or oncologic treatment, or who recently received physical therapy for neck/jaw may not benefit or may be excluded.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding orofacial and tongue exercises could reduce jaw pain and improve jaw and tongue function using a noninvasive, low-risk approach.
How similar studies have performed: Previous small randomized trials and systematic reviews report mixed but sometimes promising results for orofacial/myofunctional exercises in improving TMD pain and function, though high-quality evidence is still limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 18 - 65 aged people * Not having received physical therapy for the neck or jaw within the past three months. * No history of surgical or oncological treatment related to the neck or jaw. * Having a diagnosis of temporomandibular disorder according to the RDC/TMD criteria, specifically Group Ia, Group Ib, or Group IIa under Axis I. Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals who are pregnant or suspected to be pregnant. * Individuals with rheumatologic diseases affecting the temporomandibular joint. * Individuals with a diagnosed psychiatric disorder.
Where this trial is running
Ankara, ALTINDAG
- Ankara Medipol University — Ankara, Altindag, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Tayfun ISIK, MSc
- Email: tayfisik@gmail.com
- Phone: +90 506 688 19 14
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.