The Effect of Cervical Stabilization Exercises in Temporomandibular Joint

The Effect of Cervical Stabilization Exercises on Pain, Mobility and Functionality in Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction

The purpose of this study is; to determine the efficacy of cervical stabilization exercises in the treatment of patients with temporomandibular joint disfunction

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Cervical stabilization; Other: Home exercises; Other: Patient educating

Detailed Description

Thirty patients diagnosed with temporomandibular joint dysfunction who were included in the study were randomly assigned to the 15-person control group and the study group. Patient training and home exercises for jaw joint were given to the control group while cervical stabilization exercise program was given to the study group. The program was administered by the patients for 6 weeks. Pre-treatment and post-treatment evaluations; active and passive maximum mouth openness, joint sounds, cervical range of motion, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Short Form Quality of Life Scale (Short Form-36), Tampa Kinesophobia Scale in Temporomandibular Disorders (TKS-TMD) and Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), and the data obtained were analyzed statistically.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Istanbul Yeniyüzyıl University Gaziosmanpaşa Hospital Dental Polyclinic

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Having a complaint of temporomandibular joint for more than 3 months.
• To be literate in Turkish.
• Having signed the Informed Consent Form.

Exclusion Criteria:

• -Those with active infection
• Presence of neurological, rheumatological and musculoskeletal problems that prevent exercise
• Vertebrobasilar artery insufficiency

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Cervical Stabilization Group; cervical stabilization exercises, home exercises and patient education	Other: Cervical stabilization; Cervical range of motion exercises with craniocervical flexion, unilateral, bilateral and reciprocal shoulder flexion and abduction exercises, cervical isometric exercises with an exercise ball, unilateral, bilateral and reciprocal shoulder abduction when the exercise ball is between the wall and the head, and flexion exercises, exercise band and shoulder joint range of motion exercises with the exercise ball between the wall and the head were given to the study group. In the 3rd week, exercises were started with an exercise ball and elastic bands. All exercises were applied 3 times a day for 10 repetitions for 6 weeks.; Other: Home exercises; The exercise program included mouth opening and closing against resistance, right-left lateral flexion movements, active mouth opening and closing, bilateral lateral flexion, protrusion, and retrusion. Stretching required the patient to perform the restricted movement, pushing their jaw toward the restricted direction with their hand, holding for 10 seconds, relaxing, and repeating. It also included self-massage in the form of stroking. All exercises were performed three times a day for 6 weeks, with 10 repetitions.; Other: Patient educating; The training content includes information about the disease, recommendations for a soft diet, avoidance of parafunctional habits, demonstration of diaphragmatic breathing, and notifications to ensure correct posture.
Active Comparator: Control Group; Home exercises and patient education	Other: Home exercises; The exercise program included mouth opening and closing against resistance, right-left lateral flexion movements, active mouth opening and closing, bilateral lateral flexion, protrusion, and retrusion. Stretching required the patient to perform the restricted movement, pushing their jaw toward the restricted direction with their hand, holding for 10 seconds, relaxing, and repeating. It also included self-massage in the form of stroking. All exercises were performed three times a day for 6 weeks, with 10 repetitions.; Other: Patient educating; The training content includes information about the disease, recommendations for a soft diet, avoidance of parafunctional habits, demonstration of diaphragmatic breathing, and notifications to ensure correct posture.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
A Visual Analogue Scale	A Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is one of the pain rating scales used for the first time in 1921 by Hayes and Patterson. It is often used in epidemiologic and clinical research to measure the intensity or frequency of various symptoms.The TMJ pain caused by resting and activity of the individuals was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (0-10 interval scale) and was valued according to VAS.	Change from initial assessment to 6 weeks after initial assessment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
ROM TMJ	A 15 centimeter plastic ruler was used for ROM evaluation for TMJ. Depression of the active and passive mandible, lateral deviation (right and left), and protrusion were measured	Change from initial assessment to 6 weeks after initial assessment.
Cervical ROM	Cervical region ROM was evaluated with goniometer. Flexion, extension, rotation and lateral flexion (right and left) were measured. Each measurement was made 3 times and the mean value was recorded	Change from initial assessment to 6 weeks after initial assessment
Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale in Temporomandibular Disorders	A 12-question questionnaire developed by Visscher and his friends, used in temporomandibular joint dysfunctions. 4-point Likert-type scoring is used. A total score of 12-48 is obtained. The higher the score a person receives, the higher the kinesiophobia.	Change from initial assessment to 6 weeks after initial assessment

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Bahçeşehir University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 1, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 30, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): December 30, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 14, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 14, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): November 18, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 18, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 14, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Temporomandibular joint
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases; Stomatognathic Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Joint Diseases; Jaw Diseases; Mandibular Diseases; Craniomandibular Disorders; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: KumruA

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