Adding orofacial and tongue exercises to manual therapy for temporomandibular disorder
Official title: 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
Run by Ankara Medipol University · NCT07304557 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 48 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Ankara Medipol University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Ankara, ALTINDAG) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 19, 2025 |
| Main results expected | July 1, 2026 |
| Study ends | November 15, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | December 26, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07304557 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a 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.
✕Probably 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.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
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.
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 gone: 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.
Who can join: the full rules
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 it's running
-
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
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.