Mandibular Stretching and 4-4-8 Breathing Exercises on Autonomic Nervous System Activity (MSE-BR)

March 11, 2026 updated by: Mehin Mammadzada

Investigation of the Effects of Mandibular Stretching Exercise and 4-4-8 Breathing Exercise on Autonomic Nervous System Activity, Muscle Tone, and Psychological State: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Mandibular stretching exercises and breathing techniques may influence autonomic nervous system activity, muscle tone, and psychological state. This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of mandibular stretching exercise and the 4-4-8 breathing exercise on autonomic nervous system activity, muscle tone, and psychological parameters in healthy university students. Participants will be randomly assigned to intervention groups and evaluated before and after the intervention period.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The autonomic nervous system plays an important role in regulating physiological and psychological responses. Breathing techniques and mandibular stretching exercises are non-invasive approaches that may influence autonomic nervous system activity and muscle tone through neuromuscular and respiratory mechanisms. However, the combined or individual effects of these interventions on autonomic regulation and psychological outcomes remain insufficiently investigated.

This randomized controlled trial aims to examine the effects of mandibular stretching exercise and the 4-4-8 breathing exercise on autonomic nervous system activity, muscle tone, and psychological state in healthy university students. Participants will be randomly allocated to intervention groups according to the study protocol. Baseline and post-intervention measurements will be collected to evaluate changes in autonomic nervous system parameters, muscle tone, and psychological status.

The findings of this study may contribute to understanding the potential benefits of simple non-pharmacological interventions such as mandibular stretching and breathing exercises in improving physiological regulation and psychological well-being.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

52

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 Contact

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Konya
      • Konya, Konya, Turkey (Türkiye)
        • Recruiting
        • Necmettin Erbakan University

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

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Inclusion Criteria:
  • Healthy university students
  • Age between 18 and 30 years
  • Voluntary participation in the study
  • Ability to understand and perform mandibular stretching exercise and 4-4-8 breathing exercise

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of neurological disorders
  • Musculoskeletal disorders affecting the jaw, neck, or respiratory system
  • Respiratory diseases
  • Use of medications that may affect the autonomic nervous system
  • Inability to perform the exercises required in the study

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
Experimental: Mandibular Stretching Exercise
Participants perform mandibular stretching exercises according to the study protocol
Other: Mandibular Stretching Exercise
Participants perform mandibular stretching exercises according to the study protocol
Experimental: 4-4-8 Breathing Exercise
Participants perform the 4-4-8 breathing exercise according to the study protocol
Other: 4-4-8 Breathing Exercise
Participants perform the 4-4-8 breathing exercise according to the study protocol.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Autonomic Nervous System Activity
Time Frame: Baseline and 20, 40, 80, and 120 minutes after the intervention
Autonomic nervous system activity will be assessed by measuring heart rate (beats per minute) using a digital pulse oximeter and blood pressure (mmHg) using an automatic blood pressure monitor. Measurements will be recorded at baseline and repeatedly after the intervention period (20, 40, 80, and 120 minutes).
Baseline and 20, 40, 80, and 120 minutes after the intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Muscle Tone
Time Frame: Baseline and 20, 40, 80, and 120 minutes after the intervention
Muscle activity of the temporalis and masseter muscles will be assessed using surface electromyography (EMG). EMG amplitude (microvolts, µV) will be recorded at baseline and repeatedly after the intervention period (20, 40, 80, and 120 minutes).
Baseline and 20, 40, 80, and 120 minutes after the intervention
Psychological State
Time Frame: Baseline and 20, 40, 80, and 120 minutes after the intervention
Psychological state will be assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire. STAI scores (range 20-80 points) will be recorded at baseline and repeatedly after the intervention period (20, 40, 80, and 120 minutes).
Baseline and 20, 40, 80, and 120 minutes after the intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Mehin Mammadzada

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Neslihan Altuntaş YILMAZ, PhD, Necmettin Erbakan 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)

December 15, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

March 15, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 19, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 6, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 11, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 16, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 16, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 11, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • NEU-2025-THESIS01

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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