An interventional study of Manual Therapy Protocol and Rocabado 6x6 Home Exercise Program in Temporomandibular Joint Disorders and Neck Pain Musculoskeletal, sponsored by Pamukkale University. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 45 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-25.
Sponsored by Pamukkale University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
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Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are common musculoskeletal conditions affecting the jaw joint and surrounding chewing muscles. Myogenic TMD specifically involves muscle pain and dysfunction, which is frequently accompanied by chronic neck pain due to the close anatomical and neurophysiological connections between the jaw and the cervical spine.
The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical effectiveness of two widely used physiotherapy interventions-a clinician-administered manual therapy protocol and a patient-conducted home exercise program-in individuals diagnosed with myogenic TMD and chronic neck pain. The main research question is to determine whether targeted manual therapy applied to both the temporomandibular and cervical regions yields superior improvements in pain, jaw and neck mobility, quality of life, and masseter muscle properties compared to the Rocabado 6x6 home exercise program alone.
A total of 34 participants aged 18-45 years with myogenic TMD and chronic neck pain will be randomly allocated into two equal groups:
Manual Therapy Group: Participants receive 6 individual treatment sessions (3 days per week for 2 weeks) consisting of soft tissue mobilization, trigger point therapy, myofascial release, and joint mobilization techniques applied to the jaw and neck regions.
All participants undergo comprehensive assessments at baseline and immediately following the 2-week intervention. Evaluated parameters include jaw and neck pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale), cervical and mandibular range of motion, cervical joint position sense, jaw proprioception, facial asymmetry, bruxism, TMD severity, movement-related fear (kinesiophobia), and quality of life. In addition, masseter muscle thickness and elasticity are objectively assessed using ultrasound imaging and elastography.
The findings of this trial aim to provide healthcare professionals with high-level evidence regarding effective, targeted physiotherapy strategies for managing myogenic TMD co-occurring with cervical pain.
591 studies on the registry are indexed under Temporomandibular Joint Disorders; 149 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 34 is below the median of 45 across 415 interventional studies indexed under Temporomandibular Joint Disorders.
Browse Temporomandibular Joint Disorders studies →Pamukkale University is the lead sponsor of 342 studies on the registry; 61 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Procedure: Manual Therapy Protocol
Other: Rocabado 6x6 Home Exercise Program
Clinician-administered targeted manual therapy protocol applied to both the temporomandibular joint and cervical spine regions. The treatment includes soft tissue mobilization, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and joint mobilization techniques. Administered in 6 individual treatment sessions over 2 weeks (3 sessions per week).
Standardized patient-conducted Rocabado 6x6 home exercise program focusing on mandibular and cervical posture, mobility, and muscular control. Performed 3 days per week for 2 weeks. Patient adherence and compliance are tracked using daily exercise logbooks.
Temporomandibular Joint Pain Intensity at Rest, During Activity, and During Chewing Assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
Time frame: Baseline and Week 2, immediately post-treatment
Title: Neck Pain Intensity Assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
Time frame: Baseline and 2 weeks post-treatment
Cervical Spine Active Range of Motion Assessed by Baseline CROM Deluxe Device.
Time frame: Baseline and 2 weeks post-treatmen
Cervical Joint Position Error Assessed by Baseline CROM Deluxe Device
Time frame: Baseline and 2 weeks post-treatmen
Mandibular Range of Motion Assessed by Digital Caliper
Time frame: Baseline and 2 weeks post-treatment
Jaw Proprioception Assessed by Active Movement Extent Discrimination Apparatus (AMEDA) Protocol.
Time frame: Baseline and 2 weeks post-treatment
Facial Asymmetry Assessed by Tape Measure
Time frame: Baseline and 2 weeks post-treatment
Kinesiophobia Assessed by Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia for Temporomandibular Disorders - Short Form (TSK-TMD-12).
Time frame: Baseline and 2 weeks post-treatment
Health-Related Quality of Life Assessed by 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12).
Time frame: Baseline and 2 weeks post-treatment
Self-Reported Awake and Sleep Bruxism Assessed by Patient Questionnaire.
Time frame: Baseline and 2 weeks post-treatment
Temporomandibular Disorder Severity Assessed by the Fonseca Anamnestic Index (FAI) / Fonseca Questionnaire.
Time frame: Baseline and 2 weeks post-treatment
Bilateral Masseter Muscle Thickness Assessed by Ultrasonography.
Time frame: Baseline and 2 weeks post-treatment
No study locations are listed for this record.
Start is estimated for Sep 2026; primary completion for Jan 2027, 4 months later.
Of 242 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Temporomandibular Joint Disorders, half reached primary completion within 11 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 21. This study's planned 4 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 246 studies reached it within 10 months; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 21.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Aug 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Temporomandibular Joint Disorders →