Telerehabilitation Versus Home-Based Jaw Exercises in Temporomandibular Disorder With Bruxism (TELEROC)

June 24, 2026 updated by: Mehmet Turgut

Effectiveness of Telerehabilitation-Based Rocabado Exercises Compared With Home-Based Rocabado Exercises in Patients With Myofascial Temporomandibular Dysfunction Accompanied by Bruxism: A Randomised Controlled Trial

This study looked at whether jaw exercises (the Rocabado exercise programme) work better when delivered through supervised online video sessions than when done at home with written instructions alone, in adults who have jaw-joint pain (temporomandibular disorder) together with teeth grinding (bruxism). Thirty adults were randomly placed into one of two groups. Both groups were taught the same exercises and asked to do them twice a day for four weeks. One group also took part in supervised video sessions three times a week, where a physiotherapist watched their exercises and gave feedback; the other group used printed exercise leaflets with weekly text-message reminders. The researchers measured jaw pain, how wide participants could open their mouth, jaw movement, stress, sleep quality and oral habits before treatment, after two weeks and after four weeks, to see which approach gave better results.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This single-centre, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial was conducted at the Faculty of Dentistry, Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University. Participants who met the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) for myofascial temporomandibular disorder with concurrent bruxism were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio using a computer-generated simple randomisation sequence. Allocation was concealed using sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes that were opened only after enrolment. The outcome assessor was blinded to group allocation; participants were not blinded owing to the nature of the intervention. Both groups received identical initial face-to-face training in the Rocabado 6×6 exercise programme and were instructed to perform the exercises twice daily for four weeks. The telerehabilitation group additionally received supervised video sessions, whereas the comparator group followed the programme at home with printed materials and reminders only. Assessments were performed in person at baseline, at week 2 (mid-treatment) and at week 4 (post-treatment). The sample size was estimated using G*Power, and data were analysed with within-group and between-group statistical comparisons.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
40

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Nevşehir Province
      • Nevşehir, Nevşehir Province, Turkey (Türkiye), 50300
        • Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University, Faculty of Dentistry

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adults aged 18-60 years
  • Diagnosis of myofascial temporomandibular disorder (TMD) with bruxism according to the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD)
  • Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain score ≥ 3
  • No medical treatment for TMD in the preceding 6 months
  • Access to a smartphone with internet connectivity
  • Turkish literacy and communication ability

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Active orthodontic or splint treatment
  • History of temporomandibular joint surgery
  • Systemic inflammatory disease
  • Pregnancy
  • Major psychiatric disorders
  • Neurological deficits in the cervical region

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Telerehabilitation group
Participants received supervised Rocabado 6×6 exercise training through video sessions delivered via WhatsApp three times per week, with real-time physiotherapist feedback, in addition to performing the Rocabado exercises at home twice daily for four weeks.
Behavioral: Telerehabilitation-based Rocabado exercises
Supervised Rocabado 6×6 exercise programme delivered through video sessions via WhatsApp three times per week, with real-time physiotherapist feedback on exercise performance and technique, performed in addition to twice-daily home Rocabado exercises for four weeks.
Active Comparator: Home exercise group
Participants performed the same Rocabado 6×6 exercise programme at home twice daily for four weeks, supported by printed exercise brochures and weekly SMS reminders, without supervised video sessions.
Behavioral: Home-based Rocabado exercises
Rocabado 6×6 exercise programme performed at home twice daily for four weeks, supported by printed exercise brochures and weekly SMS reminders, without supervised video sessions or physiotherapist feedback.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale)
Time Frame: Baseline, week 2 (mid-treatment) and week 4 (post-treatment)
Pain intensity assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), scored from 0 to 10 cm, for morning pain, pain during chewing (mastication) and night pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain.
Baseline, week 2 (mid-treatment) and week 4 (post-treatment)
Maximum mouth opening
Time Frame: Baseline, week 2 (mid-treatment) and week 4 (post-treatment)
Maximum mouth opening measured in millimetres using a digital calliper (Mitutoyo, Japan); the mean of three consecutive measurements was recorded.
Baseline, week 2 (mid-treatment) and week 4 (post-treatment)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Temporomandibular joint range of motion
Time Frame: Baseline, week 2 (mid-treatment) and week 4 (post-treatment)
Active and passive maximum mouth opening, right and left lateral movements, and protrusion measured in millimetres using a digital calliper (Mitutoyo, Japan).
Baseline, week 2 (mid-treatment) and week 4 (post-treatment)
TMD severity (Fonseca Anamnestic Index)
Time Frame: Baseline and week 4 (post-treatment)
Severity of temporomandibular disorder assessed using the Fonseca Anamnestic Index (0-100 points); higher scores indicate greater severity.
Baseline and week 4 (post-treatment)
Perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale)
Time Frame: Baseline and week 4 (post-treatment)
Perceived stress assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14), scored from 0 to 40; higher scores indicate greater perceived stress.
Baseline and week 4 (post-treatment)
Sleep quality (Jenkins Sleep Scale)
Time Frame: Baseline and week 4 (post-treatment)
Sleep quality assessed using the Jenkins Sleep Scale, scored from 0 to 20; higher scores indicate poorer sleep quality.
Baseline and week 4 (post-treatment)
Oral parafunctional habits (Oral Behaviours Checklist)
Time Frame: Baseline and week 4 (post-treatment)
Oral parafunctional habits assessed using the Oral Behaviours Checklist (OBC), scored from 0 to 40; higher scores indicate more frequent oral parafunctional behaviours.
Baseline and week 4 (post-treatment)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Mehmet Turgut

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Nevin Ergun, Sanko University
  • Principal Investigator: Taha Turgut, Msc. PT., Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University
  • Principal Investigator: Mehmet Turgut, Nevsehir Haci Bektas Veli University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

  • Turgut T. Effectiveness of telerehabilitation-based Rocabado exercises compared to home-based Rocabado exercises in myofascial temporomandibular dysfunctions accompanied by bruxism [master's thesis]. Nevşehir: Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University; 2024.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 15, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 20, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 20, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 24, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 24, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 30, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 30, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 24, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2300080935

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data are not made publicly available. De-identified data generated and analysed during the study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request, subject to institutional and ethical approval.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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