CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT06558318Updated Nov 25, 2025

TMJ Dysfunction: Effects on Proprioception, Pain, and Body Awareness

An observational study in Temporomandibular Joint Disorders and Temporomandibular Disorder, sponsored by Nagihan Acet. Completed at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years to 25 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-11-25.

Sponsored by Nagihan Acet · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Other
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrollment
60
Ages
18 Years to 25 Years
Sex
All
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Study summary

The term "temporomandibular joint dysfunction" (TMJ dysfunction) refers to a range of anatomical and functional problems, with or without clinical signs and symptoms, that affect the TMJ and/or the chewing muscles. It is more frequent in women and young people ages between 20 and 40. Its frequency ranges from 28% to 88%. The term "temporomandibular joint dysfunction" (TMJ dysfunction) refers to a range of anatomical and functional problems, with or without clinical signs and symptoms, that affect the TMJ and/or the chewing muscles. It is more frequent in women and young people ages between 20 and 40. Its frequency ranges from 28% to 88%. This condition is frequently disregarded because of inadequate diagnosis . Additionally, TMJ dysfunction can particularly emerge in the early stages without the presence of pain. Due to the insidious onset of the disease, especially in the early stages, other TMJ-related factors, in addition to pain-related parameters, need to be considered.Therefore, the aim of the study is to investigate the effect of TME disorder on proprioception, body awareness, and pain-related parameters including pain threshold, pain tolerance, and temporal summation in young adults.

Read the detailed description

"In the study, young adults aged 18-25 will be included, with TMJ dysfunction being measured using the Fonseca Amnestic Index. Based on Fonseca scores, two groups will be formed: those scoring over 20 will be labeled 'with TMJ dysfunction,' while the others will be classified as 'without TMJ dysfunction.' Proprioception will be assessed both through self-reports using the Fremantle Neck Awareness Questionnaire and via joint position sense measured by a CROM device. Body awareness will also be evaluated using the Body Awareness Questionnaire. Pain assessment, including pain threshold, tolerance, and temporal summation, will be conducted using a pressure algometer. The 'pain threshold' will refer to the point at which a person first feels pain, 'pain tolerance' will be the last point that a person can tolerate, and 'temporal summation' will be the pain sensation evaluated after 10 repetitions of the pain threshold.

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Conditions studied

  • Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
  • Temporomandibular Disorder

Keywords

  • Joint Position Sense
  • Quantitative Sensory Testing
  • Temporal summation
  • Cervical proprioception
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In context

Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

609 studies on the registry are indexed under Temporomandibular Joint Disorders; 160 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 60 is below the median of 90 across 165 observational studies indexed under Temporomandibular Joint Disorders.

Browse Temporomandibular Joint Disorders studies →

Lead sponsor

Nagihan Acet is the lead sponsor of 7 studies on the registry; 1 is open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 25 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

The study population consists of young adults aged 18-25, including those with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction and asymptomatic controls without TMJ dysfunction. Participants are recruited from Atılım University.

Inclusion criteria

*Being between 18-25 years old

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of cervical spine injuries or disorders
  • Chronic pain conditions or diagnosed musculoskeletal disorders
  • Previous neck or spine surgeries
  • Neurological or psychiatric conditions affecting proprioception or pain perception
  • Use of medications influencing pain sensitivity or proprioception
  • Pregnancy
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Study design

Observational model
Other
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrollment
60 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • "TMJ Dysfunction" for the group with TMJ dysfunction.

    This group consists of young adults aged 18-25 who have been diagnosed with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. The diagnosis was determined using the Fonseca Amnestic Index, where participants with a score greater than 20 were classified into this group. The participants in this group are being analyzed for proprioception, body awareness, and pain-related parameters, including pain threshold, pain tolerance, and temporal summation.

    Other: Assessment of temporomandibular dysfunction

  • "No TMJ Dysfunction" for the group without TMJ dysfunction.

    This group includes young adults aged 18-25 who do not exhibit temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. Participants in this group have a Fonseca Amnestic Index score of 20 or lower. Similar to the TMJ dysfunction group, these participants are being evaluated for proprioception, body awareness, and pain-related parameters such as pain threshold, pain tolerance, and temporal summation.

    Other: Assessment of temporomandibular dysfunction

Interventions

  • OtherAssessment of temporomandibular dysfunction

    TMJ dysfunction will be measured using the Fonseca Amnestic Index. The Fonseca Amnestic Index is used to assess the severity of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. The index consists of 10 questions, with each question scored as 0, 5, or 10 points, depending on the severity of symptoms. The maximum total score is 100, where a higher score indicates a more severe level of TMJ dysfunction. Therefore, patients with higher scores on the Fonseca Amnestic Index are considered to have more significant TMJ issues. Based on Fonseca scores, two groups will be formed: those with scores over 20 will be labeled 'with TMJ dysfunction,' and the others 'without TMJ dysfunction.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Proprioception Assessment-1 (self-reported)

    Evaluation of proprioception using the Fremantle Neck Awareness Questionnaire:Self-reported proprioception will be assessed using the Fremantle Neck Awareness Questionnaire. The Fremantle Neck Awareness Questionnaire (FreNAQ) typically consists of 9 items, each rated on a Likert scale from 0 to 4. The scale ranges from 0 to 36 points. Higher scores on this scale indicate impaired neck awareness.

    Time frame: Single assessment at baseline

  2. Proprioception assessment-2

    Evaluation of proprioception with joint position sense measurement via a CROM device: Proprioception will also be assessed with joint position sense via a CROM device. After finding the target angle in right and left rotation directions, the patient is asked to repeat the target angle with their eyes closed. The difference is recorded. Three measurements are taken, and the average is calculated.

    Time frame: Single assessment at baseline.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Pain-related parameters

    Pain assessment, including pain threshold, tolerance, and temporal summation, will be conducted using a pressure algometer. The 'pain threshold' will be the point at which a person first feels pain, the 'pain tolerance' will be the last point that a person can tolerate, and the 'temporal summation' will be the pain sensation evaluated after 10 repetitions of the pain threshold.

    Time frame: Single assessment at baseline.

  2. Assessment of body awareness

    Body awareness will be evaluated using the Body Awareness Questionnaire.The Body Awareness Questionnaire (BAQ) consists of 18 items scored on a 1-7 scale. The total score is the sum of all items, with a minimum score of 18 and a maximum score of 126. Higher scores indicate better body awareness.

    Time frame: Single assessment at baseline.

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Atılım University
    Ankara, Ankara 06560, Turkey (Türkiye)
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Shen S, Ye M, Wu M, Zhou W, Xu S. MRI and DC/TMD Methods Analyze the Diagnostic Accuracy of the Change in Articular Disc of Temporomandibular Joint. Comput Math Methods Med. 2022 Feb 15;2022:1770810. doi: 10.1155/2022/1770810. eCollection 2022. PubMed 35211184 ↗
  • Ohrbach R, Dworkin SF. The Evolution of TMD Diagnosis: Past, Present, Future. J Dent Res. 2016 Sep;95(10):1093-101. doi: 10.1177/0022034516653922. Epub 2016 Jun 16. PubMed 27313164 ↗
  • Türken, R., S.K. Büyük, and Y. Yasin, Diş Hekimliği Fakültesi Öğrencilerinde Temporomandibular Eklem Rahatsızlıklarının ve Ağız Sağlığı Alışkanlıklarının Değerlendirilmesi. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 2020(2): p. 208-213.
  • Pires PF, de Castro EM, Pelai EB, de Arruda ABC, Rodrigues-Bigaton D. Analysis of the accuracy and reliability of the Short-Form Fonseca Anamnestic Index in the diagnosis of myogenous temporomandibular disorder in women. Braz J Phys Ther. 2018 Jul-Aug;22(4):276-282. doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2018.02.003. Epub 2018 Feb 21. PubMed 29519746 ↗
  • Heisler AC, Song J, Dunlop DD, Wohlfahrt A, Bingham CO III, Bolster MB, Clauw DJ, Marder W, Phillips K, Neogi T, Lee YC. Association of Pain Centralization and Patient-Reported Pain in Active Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020 Aug;72(8):1122-1129. doi: 10.1002/acr.23994. Epub 2020 Jul 21. PubMed 31162824 ↗
  • Revel M, Andre-Deshays C, Minguet M. Cervicocephalic kinesthetic sensibility in patients with cervical pain. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1991 Apr;72(5):288-91. PubMed 2009044 ↗
  • Peng B, Yang L, Li Y, Liu T, Liu Y. Cervical Proprioception Impairment in Neck Pain-Pathophysiology, Clinical Evaluation, and Management: A Narrative Review. Pain Ther. 2021 Jun;10(1):143-164. doi: 10.1007/s40122-020-00230-z. Epub 2021 Jan 12. PubMed 33464539 ↗
  • Mehling WE, Gopisetty V, Daubenmier J, Price CJ, Hecht FM, Stewart A. Body awareness: construct and self-report measures. PLoS One. 2009;4(5):e5614. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0005614. Epub 2009 May 19. PubMed 19440300 ↗
  • Law EY, Chiu TT. Measurement of cervical range of motion (CROM) by electronic CROM goniometer: a test of reliability and validity. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2013;26(2):141-8. doi: 10.3233/BMR-2012-00358. PubMed 23640315 ↗
  • Walton DM, Macdermid JC, Nielson W, Teasell RW, Chiasson M, Brown L. Reliability, standard error, and minimum detectable change of clinical pressure pain threshold testing in people with and without acute neck pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2011 Sep;41(9):644-50. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2011.3666. Epub 2011 Sep 1. PubMed 21885906 ↗
  • Karaca, S. (2017). Vücut Farkındalığı Anketinin Türkçe uyarlaması: Geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması (Yayınlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi). Muğla Sıtkı Koçman Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Muğla.
  • Onan D, Gokmen D, Ulger O. The Fremantle Neck Awareness Questionnaire in Chronic Neck Pain Patients: Turkish Version, Validity and Reliability Study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2020 Feb 1;45(3):E163-E169. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000003207. PubMed 31425430 ↗
  • World Health Organization. Oral Health SurveysBasic Methods. 4th ed. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1997. [

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 25, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06558318
Lead sponsor
Nagihan Acet
Responsible party
Nagihan Acet (Asst. Prof., Atılım University) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Aug 16, 2024
Start date
Aug 19, 2024
Primary completion
Dec 19, 2024
Completion
Jan 19, 2025
Last update
Nov 25, 2025

Study contacts

Nagihan Acet, Phd.
study director · Atılım University
Sena Nur Begen, MSc.
principal investigator · Atılım University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Nov 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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