Effectiveness of Cervical Stabilization Exercises in Individuals With Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

March 23, 2025 updated by: Mesut Arslan, Bitlis Eren University
It is planned to examine the effect of cervical stabilization exercises on Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) symptoms in individuals with TMJ disorder.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Individuals included in the study will be divided into 2 groups, Stabilization and Control groups, by block randomization method. A standard treatment program (Education + home exercises) will be applied to both groups. In addition to the stabilization group, cervical stabilization exercises will be applied. Individuals will be evaluated with the Sociodemographic Data Form before the application.

Before and after the application, individuals were assessed for TMJ pain with the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), TMJ symptom severity with the Fonseca Anamnestic Index (FAI) and cervical posture, mobility and muscle performance will be evaluated with craniovertebral angle, goniometer and craniocervical flexion test.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

30

Phase

  • 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
    • Bitlis
      • Merkez, Bitlis, Turkey, 13000
        • Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Having a TMJ disorder according to the TMJ Disorders Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC/TMD),
  • Being between the ages of 18-65,

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Neurological diseases (such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease),
  • Metabolic and systemic diseases (such as Hypothyroidism, Hypercalcemia, Diabetes mellitus, Celiac disease),
  • Rheumatologic diseases (such as Rheumatoid arthritis, Scleroderma),
  • History of head and spine trauma/surgery in the last 6 months,
  • History of malignancy and pregnant women will be excluded.

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: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Control group
The control group will receive a standard treatment (education + home exercises) program.
Other: Standard treatment (Education + home exercises)
Individuals will be informed about TMJ disorders, parafunctional activities (chewing gum, nail/pen biting, etc.) and recommendations. In addition, Rocabado exercises will be given as a home program.
Experimental: Stabilization group
The stabilization group will receive cervical stabilization exercises in addition to standard treatment.
Other: Standard treatment (Education + home exercises)
Individuals will be informed about TMJ disorders, parafunctional activities (chewing gum, nail/pen biting, etc.) and recommendations. In addition, Rocabado exercises will be given as a home program.
Other: Cervical stabilization exercises
Cervical Stabilization Exercises will be performed 3 days a week for 8 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Cervical Posture
Time Frame: Change from baseline at 8 weeks
Cervical posture will be evaluated from the craniovertebral angle.
Change from baseline at 8 weeks
Cervical Mobility
Time Frame: Change from baseline at 8 weeks
For cervical mobility, normal joint movements of the neck will be evaluated with a goniometer.
Change from baseline at 8 weeks
Cervical Muscle Performance
Time Frame: Change from baseline at 8 weeks
Cervical muscle performance will be evaluated with the craniocervical flexion test.
Change from baseline at 8 weeks
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at 8 weeks
TMJ pain will be evaluated at rest with the NPRS scale. It is a scale scored between 0-10 points and '0 points means 'I have no pain' and '10 points means 'I have unbearable pain'. NRS score between 1-3 points indicates mild pain, between 4-6 points indicates moderate pain and between 7-10 points indicates severe pain.
Change from baseline at 8 weeks
Fonseca Anamnestic Index (FAI)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at 8 weeks
It assesses TMJ disorder and its severity. The index includes three options: "yes" (10 points), "sometimes" (5 points) and "no" (0 points). A total score of 0-15 is considered as no TMJ disorder, 20-40 as mild, 45-65 as moderate, and 70-100 as severe.
Change from baseline at 8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Jaw Function Limitation Scale (JFSL-20)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at 8 weeks
It is a 20-question scale that evaluates the extent to which jaw functions are restricted with a score between 0-10. A high score on the scale indicates a high level of impairment.
Change from baseline at 8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Bitlis Eren University

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)

June 24, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

March 21, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

March 21, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 10, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 23, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

June 24, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

March 26, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 23, 2025

Last Verified

March 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • TMJD-EXERCISE

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

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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