Effects Exercises in Temporomandibular Joint Disorders on Pain, Joint and Tongue Functions

NCT07304557 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 0354
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 48
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if orofacial exercises works to treat temporomandibular disorders in adults. It will also learn about the safety of orofacial exercises on temporomandibular disorders. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does orofacial exercises improve function of temporomandibular disorders ? Does orofacial exercises decrease pain in temporomandibular disorders? Researchers will compare orofacial exercises and manual therapy to manual therapy. Participants will: Take manual therapy and orofacial exercises or manual therapy two days in every week for 6 weeks Assessment once every 2 weeks for tests

Conditions

TMD; TMD/Orofacial Pain

Keywords

Orofacial Pain; TMD; Tongue Strength; OMES

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• orofacial myofunctional evaluation with scores

  The Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Scores (OMES) protocol is designed to assess oral dysfunctions through multiple subdomains. These subdomains include appearance and posture, mobility, function, swallowing, mastication, functional occlusion, and mandibular movement. Higher scores indicate better functional status. The protocol has not yet been validated in Turkish. It was first used in a pediatric population and has also demonstrated validity in individuals with temporomandibular disorders.

  From enrolment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks, in every two weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Pain threshold level of temporomandibular joint and temporal regions

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks, once every two weeks.

• Pain Level of Numerical Pain Scale

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks, once in every two weeks

Study Arms (2)

Orofacial Group

EXPERIMENTAL

The group planned to orofacial exercises and manual therapy intervention applying.

Other: Exercise; Other: Manual therapy

Control Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

the group planned to manual therapy apply.

Other: Exercise; Other: Manual therapy

Interventions

Exercise OTHER

The orofacial and tongue exercises include four-directional tongue mobilizations and resisted tongue movements in forward and upward directions within the oral cavity to improve tongue mobility. In addition, safe mouth opening exercises, as well as cheek and lip exercises, are also included in the exercise program.

Also known as: Orofacial exercises, TMD exercises

Orofacial Group

Manual therapy OTHER

Manual therapy will begin with cervical stretching, relaxation of the cervical paraspinal muscles, and release techniques for the sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles. The intensity of these exercises will be adjusted according to the patient's and tissue's tolerance. Relaxation of the masticatory muscles will be achieved through massage applied externally to the jaw and the temporal region. Passive range-of-motion exercises will be performed to increase the mobility of the temporomandibular joint.

Control Group; Orofacial Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• aged people
• Not having received physical therapy for the neck or jaw within the past three months.
• No history of surgical or oncological treatment related to the neck or jaw.
• Having a diagnosis of temporomandibular disorder according to the RDC/TMD criteria, specifically Group Ia, Group Ib, or Group IIa under Axis I.

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals who are pregnant or suspected to be pregnant.
• Individuals with rheumatologic diseases affecting the temporomandibular joint.
• Individuals with a diagnosed psychiatric disorder.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Tayfun ISIK: lead
• The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Ankara Medipol University

Ankara, ALTINDAG, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Facial Pain

Interventions

Exercise; Musculoskeletal Manipulations

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation

Central Study Contacts

Tayfun ISIK, MSc

CONTACT

+90 506 688 19 14; tayfisik@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Master of Science, Lecturer

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 12, 2025
• First Posted: December 26, 2025
• Study Start: June 19, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 15, 2026
• Last Updated: December 26, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Locations

TU (1)