Pain neuroscience education plus physiotherapy for temporomandibular joint disorder
Comparison of the Effect of Pain Neuroscience Education Combined With Physiotherapy, and Physiotherapy Alone in Temporomandibular Disorders
This research will see if adding pain neuroscience education to physiotherapy helps adults with chronic temporomandibular joint pain reduce pain and improve function.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 36 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Istanbul Medipol University Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Istanbul, Kavacik) |
| Trial ID | NCT07147764 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Adults with chronic, pain-related temporomandibular disorders will be randomly assigned to receive either a physiotherapy program alone or the same physiotherapy program combined with pain neuroscience education (PNE). Treatments are delivered over a defined course and outcomes will include pain intensity, psychological measures, and functional jaw outcomes. Key eligibility includes diagnosis per DC/TMD, pain for at least six months, age 18–65, and exclusion of recent physical therapy or major psychiatric/neurologic conditions. The trial compares the added value of an educational pain-targeted approach alongside standard physical therapy.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18–65 with pain-related TMD per DC/TMD that has lasted at least six months and was present in the last 30 days, who are literate and do not have uncontrolled psychiatric, neurodegenerative, infectious, or recent-postsurgical conditions, are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People who are pregnant, have recent dental surgery, active infection, whiplash-associated disorder, chronic inflammatory or neurologic disease, severe depression or other uncontrolled psychiatric diagnoses, or who received physiotherapy or any health/pain education in the past year are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding pain neuroscience education to standard physiotherapy could reduce pain, improve coping and psychological well-being, and enhance jaw function for people with chronic TMD.
How similar studies have performed: Pain neuroscience education has produced benefits in other chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions and limited preliminary TMD studies suggest promise, but combining PNE with physiotherapy specifically for TMD is not yet well established.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed with pain-related TMDs according to DC/TMD guidelines * Chronic TMD pain, defined as experiencing pain for at least six months and feeling the pain during the last 30 days * Age between 18-65 years Exclusion Criteria: * Illiterate patients * Severe depression (medical diagnoses) * Previous diagnosis of uncontrolled psychiatric disorder neurodegenerative diseases * Clinical history of tumors in the craniofacial region * Patients in the post dental surgery period * Patients who were submitted to previous physical therapy in the past year or to any health/pain education strategy * Pregnant women * Infections, whiplash-associated disorders and with chronic degenerative inflammatory or neurologic disorders
Where this trial is running
Istanbul, Kavacik
- Istanbul Medipol University — Istanbul, Kavacik, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Ainaz Shahedi, PT, MSc (Cand.)
- Email: shahediainaz1@gmail.com
- Phone: +90-542-733-1783
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.