Using magnetic stimulation to treat jaw joint disorders
Efficacy of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Chronic Pain in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders.
This study is testing if a special type of magnetic treatment can help people with painful jaw joint disorders feel better when other treatments haven't worked.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Coimbra Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Coimbra) |
| Trial ID | NCT06813040 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study investigates the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a treatment for temporomandibular disorders (TMD), which are painful conditions affecting the jaw joint and surrounding muscles. Participants will receive either active rTMS or a sham treatment to assess the impact on their chronic pain symptoms. The study aims to address the complex nature of TMD, particularly in patients who have not responded to conventional therapies. By exploring neuroplastic changes induced by chronic pain, the research seeks to provide a novel therapeutic approach for managing TMD.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are adults over 18 years old with a diagnosis of muscular and/or joint TMD and chronic pain lasting longer than six months.
Not a fit: Patients with neurological disorders, psychiatric conditions, or contraindications to transcranial magnetic stimulation will not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly reduce chronic pain and improve the quality of life for patients suffering from temporomandibular disorders.
How similar studies have performed: While the use of rTMS for chronic pain management is gaining interest, this specific application for TMD is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Individuals of both sexes, literate, aged over 18 years with the diagnosis of muscular and/or joint TMD by the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC-TMD). * Pain duration longer than 6 months. * Intensity of orofacial pain greater than 5 on the visual analogue scale (VAS). Exclusion Criteria: * Volunteers who present verbal communication impairment due to a neurological disorder, a sequel to a previous illness, or a psychiatric condition. * Pregnant women * Individuals with any impediment to MRI: having a pacemaker or implantable defibrillator, cochlear implant, ferromagnetic aneurysm clips, electrodes used for deep brain stimulation, ocular implants, Swan-Ganz catheter, orthopedic prostheses or metallic bodies close to the area of interest. * Individuals with any contraindication for transcranial magnetic stimulation: have focal or generalized encephalopathies, increased intracranial pressure, and severe heart disease; history of head trauma, epilepsy, and individuals with first-degree relatives diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy; use of drugs that lower the seizure threshold (tricyclic antidepressants and antipsychotics); chronic use of alcohol or epileptogenic drugs.
Where this trial is running
Coimbra
- University of Coimbra — Coimbra, Portugal (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Catarina Duarte, PhD — ICNAS - Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health
- Study coordinator: Miguel Castelo-Branco
- Email: mcbranco@fmed.uc.pt
- Phone: +351 239 488510
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.