An interventional study of Osteopathic Intervention Techniques and Placebo Technique in Asymptomatic Condition, sponsored by Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Portugal. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-29.
Sponsored by Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of compression and decompression thecnique on the temporomandibular joint on maximum mouth opening width, masseter muscle tone and stiffness in asymptomatic adults, compared with a control condition consisting of cranial listening touch without therapeutic intent. Evaluations will be conducted immediately after the intervention and one week later.
The purpose of this study is to assess the Effect of Compression and Decompression Technique on the Temporomandibular Joint on masseter muscle tone and stiffness (always assessed on the right side). Muscle properties will be evaluated using the Myoton device (Myoton AS, Tallinn, Estonia), a non-invasive instrument that measures biomechanical and viscoelastic properties of muscles, such as stiffness and tone (the parameters used in the results).
In addition, maximum mouth-opening width will be assessed by measuring the distance between the upper and lower central incisors using a universal caliper, recorded in millimeters.
These outcomes will be compared with a control condition consisting of cranial listening touch without therapeutic intent .
The study will include asymptomatic adults without diagnoses of systemic inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases , central nervous system disorders, or rheumatic pathologies. Additional exclusion criteria include: use of fixed orthodontic appliances within the past 3 months; visual impairment affecting balance or proprioception; history of maxillofacial surgery; trauma to the cranial or cervical region within the last 6 months ; ongoing pharmacological treatments that may interfere with muscle tone or pain perception (e.g., muscle relaxants, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines) and third/fourth year osteopathy students.
Measurements of the tone/stiffness of the masseter muscle and maximum mouth opening width will conducted before, immediately after the intervention and one week later the study will be repeated in each participant.
38 studies on the registry are indexed under Asymptomatic Diseases; 8 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 32 is below the median of 50 across 28 interventional studies indexed under Asymptomatic Diseases.
Browse Asymptomatic Diseases studies →Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto is the lead sponsor of 39 studies on the registry; 20 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
In the control group, cranial listening touch without therapeutic intent using the par la voute hold was performed during 30 seconds.
Other: Placebo Technique
The intervention consisted of two phases: The first one consisting in mandibular compression, applied for 30 seconds. The second phase is applied right after, consisting in mandibular decompression, applied for 30 seconds.
Other: Osteopathic Intervention Techniques
The temporomandibular joint compression and decompression technique consists of, with the patient in the supine position and the investigator at the head, hooking the middle fingers beneath the angles of the mandible while the basal joints cover the joints and the palms cover the ears and temporal regions. First, a light cranially-directed pressure is applied to the mandible for 30 seconds to release restrictions and stretch the intracranial membrane. Subsequently, the vector is reversed, and a gentle caudally-directed traction is applied for another 30 seconds to free the joint space."
Cranial listening touch without therapeutic intent consists of, with the patient in the supine position and the investigator at the head of the bed, the investigator placing bilateral contacts on the patient's skull with the first fingers in contact with each other, without contacting the skull, the second fingers on the greater wing of the sphenoid, the third fingers anterior to the ear, the fourth fingers posterior to the ear, and the fifth fingers in contact with the squamous part of the occipital bone. In addition, after placing the contacts, the investigator asks the patient not to contact the maxillary teeth with the mandibular teeth.
Maximum Mouth Opening Width
For the assessment of the maximum mouth opening width was measured the distance between the upper and lower central incisors was measured in millimeters (mm) using a universal caliper.
Time frame: Immediately after the intervention. Since the protocol has two interventions, the total time frame is one week.
Masseter Muscle Tone
The assessment of masseter muscle tone was performed using Myoton (Myoton AS Talin, Estonia), a non-invasive approach to comprehensively evaluate the biomechanical and viscoelastic properties of muscles. Muscle tone is calculated using the maximum frequency of oscillation and tissue deformation detected by the transducer (Hz).
Time frame: Immediately after the intervention. Since the protocol has two interventions, the total time frame is one week.
Masseter muscle stiffness
The assessment of masseter muscle stiffness was performed using Myoton (Myoton AS Talin, Estonia), a non-invasive approach to comprehensively evaluate the biomechanical and viscoelastic properties of muscles. Muscle stiffness is calculated based on equations calculated from the acceleration of the testing probe during oscillations (N/m).
Time frame: Immediately after the intervention. Since the protocol has two interventions, the total time frame is one week.
Plan to share: No
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jun 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto