An interventional study of Telerehabilitation-based Rocabado exercises and Home-based Rocabado exercises in Temporomandibular Disorders, Bruxism, sponsored by Mehmet Turgut. Completed at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years to 60 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-30.
Sponsored by Mehmet Turgut · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This study looked at whether jaw exercises (the Rocabado exercise programme) work better when delivered through supervised online video sessions than when done at home with written instructions alone, in adults who have jaw-joint pain (temporomandibular disorder) together with teeth grinding (bruxism). Thirty adults were randomly placed into one of two groups. Both groups were taught the same exercises and asked to do them twice a day for four weeks. One group also took part in supervised video sessions three times a week, where a physiotherapist watched their exercises and gave feedback; the other group used printed exercise leaflets with weekly text-message reminders. The researchers measured jaw pain, how wide participants could open their mouth, jaw movement, stress, sleep quality and oral habits before treatment, after two weeks and after four weeks, to see which approach gave better results.
This single-centre, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial was conducted at the Faculty of Dentistry, Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University. Participants who met the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) for myofascial temporomandibular disorder with concurrent bruxism were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio using a computer-generated simple randomisation sequence. Allocation was concealed using sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes that were opened only after enrolment. The outcome assessor was blinded to group allocation; participants were not blinded owing to the nature of the intervention. Both groups received identical initial face-to-face training in the Rocabado 6×6 exercise programme and were instructed to perform the exercises twice daily for four weeks. The telerehabilitation group additionally received supervised video sessions, whereas the comparator group followed the programme at home with printed materials and reminders only. Assessments were performed in person at baseline, at week 2 (mid-treatment) and at week 4 (post-treatment). The sample size was estimated using G*Power, and data were analysed with within-group and between-group statistical comparisons.
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants received supervised Rocabado 6×6 exercise training through video sessions delivered via WhatsApp three times per week, with real-time physiotherapist feedback, in addition to performing the Rocabado exercises at home twice daily for four weeks.
Behavioral: Telerehabilitation-based Rocabado exercises
Participants performed the same Rocabado 6×6 exercise programme at home twice daily for four weeks, supported by printed exercise brochures and weekly SMS reminders, without supervised video sessions.
Behavioral: Home-based Rocabado exercises
Supervised Rocabado 6×6 exercise programme delivered through video sessions via WhatsApp three times per week, with real-time physiotherapist feedback on exercise performance and technique, performed in addition to twice-daily home Rocabado exercises for four weeks.
Rocabado 6×6 exercise programme performed at home twice daily for four weeks, supported by printed exercise brochures and weekly SMS reminders, without supervised video sessions or physiotherapist feedback.
Pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale)
Pain intensity assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), scored from 0 to 10 cm, for morning pain, pain during chewing (mastication) and night pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain.
Time frame: Baseline, week 2 (mid-treatment) and week 4 (post-treatment)
Maximum mouth opening
Maximum mouth opening measured in millimetres using a digital calliper (Mitutoyo, Japan); the mean of three consecutive measurements was recorded.
Time frame: Baseline, week 2 (mid-treatment) and week 4 (post-treatment)
Temporomandibular joint range of motion
Active and passive maximum mouth opening, right and left lateral movements, and protrusion measured in millimetres using a digital calliper (Mitutoyo, Japan).
Time frame: Baseline, week 2 (mid-treatment) and week 4 (post-treatment)
TMD severity (Fonseca Anamnestic Index)
Severity of temporomandibular disorder assessed using the Fonseca Anamnestic Index (0-100 points); higher scores indicate greater severity.
Time frame: Baseline and week 4 (post-treatment)
Perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale)
Perceived stress assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14), scored from 0 to 40; higher scores indicate greater perceived stress.
Time frame: Baseline and week 4 (post-treatment)
Sleep quality (Jenkins Sleep Scale)
Sleep quality assessed using the Jenkins Sleep Scale, scored from 0 to 20; higher scores indicate poorer sleep quality.
Time frame: Baseline and week 4 (post-treatment)
Oral parafunctional habits (Oral Behaviours Checklist)
Oral parafunctional habits assessed using the Oral Behaviours Checklist (OBC), scored from 0 to 40; higher scores indicate more frequent oral parafunctional behaviours.
Time frame: Baseline and week 4 (post-treatment)
Plan to share: No — Individual participant data are not made publicly available. De-identified data generated and analysed during the study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request, subject to institutional and ethical approval.
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