Masseter Muscle Stiffness After Heat Application and Percussion Therapy

NCT07237087 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2025-00295
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the changes in the stiffness of the masseter muscle (a jaw muscle) before and after two types of treatment: applying commercial heat pads or using a commercial massage gun. We will measure the muscle stiffness on the surface of the muscle using a special ultrasound probe, with a method called shear wave elastography. When this muscle is too stiff, it's often linked to jaw pain and problems with the jaw joint - a condition known as Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD). The goal is to find better treatment options for people with TMD and to collect data using this imaging technique.

Conditions

Healthy Participants

Keywords

TMD; shear wave elastography; ultrasound; elastography; Elasticity Imaging Techniques; heat pad; massage gun; heat treatment; percussion massage

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Masseter muscle stiffness

  Muscle stiffness will be assessed using shear wave elastography (SWE) via ultrasound. Results will be reported in kilopascals (kPa) and/or meters per second (m/s).

  The time from the first appointment to the second (final) appointment will be two weeks.

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Algometry of the Masseter Muscle

  The time from the first appointment to the second (final) appointment will be two weeks.

• mouth opening

  The time from the first appointment to the second (final) appointment will be two weeks.

• maximum bite force

  The time from the first appointment to the second (final) appointment will be two weeks.

• chewing efficiency

  The time from the first appointment to the second (final) appointment will be two weeks.

Study Arms (2)

Group A: First massage gun, then heat treatment

EXPERIMENTAL

The massage gun is the new treatment (experimental). Heat treatment is already commonly used for muscle stiffness and could be considered an active comparator. However, since its specific effects on the masseter muscle are not well established, it may also be classified as experimental.

Device: massage gun; Device: heat treatment

Group B: first heat treatment, then massage gun

EXPERIMENTAL

The massage gun is the new treatment (experimental). Heat treatment is already commonly used for muscle stiffness and could be considered an active comparator. However, since its specific effects on the masseter muscle are not well established, it may also be classified as experimental.

Device: massage gun; Device: heat treatment

Interventions

massage gun DEVICE

The massage gun used in this study will be equipped with a soft attachment designed for use on the face, ensuring safe and comfortable application to the masseter muscle.

Group A: First massage gun, then heat treatment; Group B: first heat treatment, then massage gun

heat treatment DEVICE

The heat treatment will be applied for 20min.

Also known as: heat pad, heating pad

Group A: First massage gun, then heat treatment; Group B: first heat treatment, then massage gun

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Willingness to participate to the study
• Signed written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Inability to follow procedures or insufficient knowledge of project language, inability to give consent
• a history of drug ingestion within the past week (e.g. pain relievers, muscle relaxants, botox and anti-inflammatory drugs)
• systemic diseases
• Contraindications listed on the massage-gun instruction manual systemic and related to the use on the masseter area.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Zurich: lead
• University Hospital, Zürich: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Zentrum für Zahnmedizin

Zurich, Canton of Zurich, 8032, Switzerland

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Fever

Interventions

Diathermy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Body Temperature Changes; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Hyperthermia, Induced; Therapeutics

Study Officials

• Mutlu Özcan, Prof. Dr. med. dent.

  University of Zurich

  STUDY CHAIR

Central Study Contacts

Vera Colombo, PD Dr. sc. ETH

CONTACT

+41 (0)44 634 33 11; vera.colombo@zzm.uzh.ch

Nenad Lukic, Dr. med. Dr. med. dent.

CONTACT

nenad.lukic@zzm.uzh.ch

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 14, 2025
• First Posted: November 19, 2025
• Study Start: November 15, 2025
• Primary Completion: March 31, 2026
• Study Completion: March 31, 2026
• Last Updated: November 19, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Time Frame: starting 6 months after publication

Locations

CH (1)