An interventional study of Synchronous Telerehabilitation Protocol and Asynchronous Telerehabilitation Protocol in Bruxism and Sleep Bruxism, sponsored by Gazi University. Completed at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-18.
Sponsored by Gazi University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this clinical trial was to learn if online exercise and self-massage programs could lower pain and improve jaw movement in adults with bruxism (teeth grinding or clenching). The main questions it aimed to answer were:
Did live video exercise guided by a physical therapist lower jaw pain more than an independent video exercise program? Did live video exercise guided by a physical therapist improve mouth opening more than an independent video exercise program? Researchers compared live video sessions to independent video exercises to see which approach worked better for improving jaw function, sleep quality, and daily life.
Participants:
Completed an 8-session exercise and self-massage program over 4 weeks (2 times each week).
Either practiced live with a physical therapist over video calls or followed recorded video exercises on their own at home.
Answered surveys about pain, sleep quality, and oral health before and after the 4-week program.
Had their mouth opening, jaw muscle sensitivity, and muscle activity tested before and after the program.
Bruxism is characterized by repetitive masticatory muscle activity leading to masticatory muscle pain, restricted mandibular range of motion, and impaired oral health-related quality of life. Telerehabilitation represents a promising alternative to conventional face-to-face physiotherapy to overcome accessibility barriers.
In this prospective, randomized, two-arm parallel-group controlled trial, individuals diagnosed with clinically-based bruxism were randomly assigned to either the Synchronous Telerehabilitation Group (S-TRG) or the Asynchronous Telerehabilitation Group (A-TRG).
Both groups completed an 8-session intervention protocol over 4 weeks (2 sessions per week). The intervention protocol comprised:
Breathing training protocol (deep diaphragmatic breathing), Cervical region stretching and chin-tuck exercises, Temporomandibular joint range of motion and stretching exercises, Bilateral self-massage techniques (sliding, kneading, friction, and ischemic compression to masseter and temporalis muscles), Scapular stabilization exercises (W, T, and Y exercises).
In the S-TRG, sessions were conducted in real time under the direct supervision of a physiotherapist via live video calls. In the A-TRG, participants were taught the exercises in an initial recorded live video session and subsequently performed the protocol independently using their personalized instructional video recordings, with weekly phone/text check-ins to monitor adherence and screen for adverse events. Additionally, all participants received a standardized patient education brochure on TMJ care and behavioral modifications.
Outcome assessments were conducted at baseline and immediately following the 4-week intervention period. Evaluated parameters included:
Pain intensity assessed using the 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) at rest, during the night, in the morning, and during activity, Maximum mouth opening (MMO) measured with a caliper, Pressure pain threshold (PPT) and pressure pain tolerance (PPTol) of the masseter and temporalis anterior muscles assessed using a digital algometer, Masticatory muscle activation during maximum voluntary isometric contraction and clenching tasks assessed via surface electromyography (sEMG), Oral health-related quality of life evaluated using the 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), Subjective sleep quality assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
62 studies on the registry are indexed under Sleep Bruxism; 11 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 34 is below the median of 39 across 38 interventional studies indexed under Sleep Bruxism.
Browse Sleep Bruxism studies →Gazi University is the lead sponsor of 551 studies on the registry; 102 are open to participants now.
Compared within Sleep Bruxism, this study's primary condition as ClinicalTrials.gg classifies it; the registry's first condition term is Bruxism. The counts are of registry records indexed under each term, refreshed daily. How we classify →
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
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.
Participants completed an 8-session therapeutic exercise and self-massage program over 4 weeks (2 sessions per week) via real-time live video calls under the direct supervision of a physiotherapist. They also received TMJ patient education and behavioral modification brochures.
Behavioral: Synchronous Telerehabilitation Protocol
Participants were taught the same 8-session exercise and self-massage protocol in an initial live recorded video session and subsequently performed the exercises independently at home for 4 weeks using personalized video recordings, supported by weekly check-ins. They also received TMJ patient education and behavioral modification brochures.
Behavioral: Asynchronous Telerehabilitation Protocol
Real-time video-supervised protocol consisting of diaphragmatic breathing, cervical stretching, TMJ range of motion and self-stretching, bilateral masseter/temporalis self-massage, scapular stabilization exercises, and TMJ education brochure (8 sessions over 4 weeks).
Video-recorded home protocol consisting of identical diaphragmatic breathing, cervical stretching, TMJ range of motion/self-stretching, bilateral self-massage, scapular exercises, and TMJ education brochure performed independently with weekly check-ins (8 sessions over 4 weeks).
Change in Pain Intensity
Assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), an 11-point scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain). Pain intensity is evaluated at rest, during the night, in the morning upon waking, and during jaw activity/function.
Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention (Week 4)
Change in Maximum Mouth Opening (MMO)
Maximum active mouth opening without pain measured in centimeters (cm) using a caliper between the incisal edges of the maxillary and mandibular central incisors.
Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention (Week 4)
Change in Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT)
Assessed in pounds (lb) using a digital algometer (1 cm² probe) over the bilateral masseter and anterior temporalis muscles to determine the minimum force at which pressure sensation transitions into pain.
Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention (Week 4)
Change in Pressure Pain Tolerance (PPTol)
Assessed in pounds (lb) using a digital algometer (1 cm² probe) over the bilateral masseter and anterior temporalis muscles to determine the maximum level of pressure pain tolerated.
Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention (Week 4)
Change in Masticatory Muscle Activity (sEMG)
Assessed via surface electromyography (sEMG) to evaluate muscle activation of the masseter and temporalis anterior muscles during maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and clenching tasks.
Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention (Week 4)
Change in Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHIP-14)
Evaluated using the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14). Total scores range from 0 to 56, with higher scores indicating poorer oral health-related quality of life.
Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention (Week 4)
Change in Subjective Sleep Quality (PSQI)
Assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The global score ranges from 0 to 21, with scores greater than 5 indicating poor sleep quality.
Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention (Week 4)
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Ran from Aug 2025 to primary completion in Apr 2026, 8 months.
Of 19 interventional studies with no phase under Sleep Bruxism, half reached primary completion within 6 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 4 and three quarters within 13. This study's 8 months is above that.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is completed, as verified in Sep 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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