Neck Exercises in Patients With Temporomandibular Disorders
CompletedNot applicableNCT03403998
View the official record on ClinicalTrials.gov Recruiting status changes often. Contact the study team listed on ClinicalTrials.gov, and talk to your doctor before joining a study.
Brief summary (from the registry)
Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is a common reason to seek medical treatment. Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are MSK disorders that affect the masticatory muscles, the temporomandibular joint, and related structures in the neck and head. Current research showed that people with chronic TMDs have structural and functional brain changes that may contribute to chronic pain development and maintenance. Therapeutic exercise is a central component in treating chronic MSK conditions. New therapies, including exercise, appear to have potential in targeting cortical changes to improve clinical outcomes. However, mechanisms of action are not well understood, and evidence is limited to a few weak studies and specific populations. Evidence from our research group highlights neck exercise as potentially useful in treating TMDs. However, we do not yet know how the brains of women with TMD respond to specific exercise and whether these changes relate to decreased pain, improved function, and quality of life. Evidence linking brain plasticity, pain modulation, and exercise therapy is currently limited, and non-existent for people with TMDs. Objectives: In women with chronic TMD pain, we will:1) determine the impact of motor control training using visual feedback (MCTF) on clinical outcomes such as pain intensity and jaw disability, 2) assess the impact of MCTF on brain structure, using diffusion tensor imaging, 3) assess the impact of MCTF on brain networks, using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging, and 4) determine the effectiveness of MCTF to restore normal muscular structure, performance and fatigability of neck cervical muscles, using electromyographic analysis. Methods: Women with chronic TMD pain will be randomized to either an intervention arm or a placebo control group. Women in the intervention arm will receive 8 weeks of progressive exercise MCTF of the cervical muscles, twice per week. Women in the placebo arm will receive innocuous transcutaneous electri…
Study details
- Official title
- Effectiveness of Neck Motor Control Exercises in Patients With Temporomandibular Disorders: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
- Conditions
- Temporomandibular Disorders
- Temporomandibular Joint Pain
- Interventions
- Sponsor
- University of Alberta
- Start date
- 2018-01-17
- Primary completion
- 2024-12-20
- Sex
- Female
- Age range
- from 18 Years to 60 Years
- Results posted
- No results posted in this snapshot
- Countries
- Canada
- Total sites listed
- 1
Eligibility criteria
Show eligibility criteria (verbatim from the registry)
Inclusion Criteria: 1. females 18-60 years of age (TMDs are more prevalent in females); 2. diagnosed with muscle pain disorders as classified by the new Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) or mixed TMD; 3. have had pain in the masticatory muscle for at least 3 months; 4. have chronic masticatory muscle pain not attributable to recent acute trauma, previous infection, or active inflammation; and 5. have a moderate or severe baseline pain score of 30 mm or greater using a 100 mm VAS. Exclusion Criteria: 1. metabolic, rheumatoid, or vascular diseases; 2. commonly comorbid functional chronic pain disorders (e.g., irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia); 3. psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, schizophrenia); 4. abnormal neurological examination; 5. contraindication for MRI scanning (e.g., metallic surgical implant); 6. self-report of substance abuse; 7. exercise therapy in the 6 months before entry into the study or current treatment for TMD; 8. previous experience with electrotherapy; or 9. pregnant or planning a pregnancy. After confirming eligibility to participate in the study, all participants will be asked to sign an informed consent in accordance with the UofA´s policies on research using human participants.
Canadian sites (1)
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov (US National Library of Medicine), snapshot October 2026. Check the registry for current recruiting status. Record: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03403998