The Effect of Non-Invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation Combined With Self-Managed Therapy in Individuals With Myogenic Temporomandibular Dysfunction

NCT ID: NCT06802445

Last Updated: 2025-09-11

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

48 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-02-08

Study Completion Date

2026-02-03

Brief Summary

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The aim of our study is to determine the benefit of non-invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation in combination with self-administered therapy on the symptoms associated with jaw joint dysfunction in individuals with jaw joint dysfunction.

If you agree to participate in the study, you will fill out a form containing your information such as age, height, body weight. Then, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Central Sensitisation Scale will be used to assess the severity of jaw and neck joint pain. The 8-question Jaw Function Restriction Scale will be used to assess the limitation of jaw function.

An algometer will be used to evaluate the pressure-pain threshold, and Therabite range of motion scale will be used to evaluate the range of motion of the jaw joint. One photograph will be taken from the side profile to evaluate the head-neck posture, this photograph will be used for craniocervical angle measurement and will not be shared elsewhere. Myotonmetry will be used to evaluate muscle mechanical properties and non-invasive superficial electromyography (yEMG) will be used to evaluate muscle activation.

The treatments to be applied within the scope of the study will be carried out 3 days a week and the evaluation sessions will last 30 minutes.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

"A Double-Blind, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Study"

Within the scope of this single-centre, prospective, double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled study design, participants will be randomised to 3 groups via a web-based randomisation website.
Primary Study Purpose

OTHER

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Self-Management Therapy Group

The self-administered therapy programme will consist of prevention of parafunctional activities, information about sleep hygiene and home exercise programmes, the effectiveness of which has been reported in the literature and is in line with the International Delphi Guidelines. Home exercises will start with 2 times a day, 8 repetitions and progress will be made weekly according to the patient's condition.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Self-Management Therapy

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants in this group will receive self management therapy. The self-administered therapy programme will consist of prevention of parafunctional activities, information about sleep hygiene and home exercise programmes, the effectiveness of which has been reported in the literature and is in line with the International Delphi Guidelines. Home exercises will start with 2 times a day, 8 repetitions and progress will be made weekly according to the patient's condition.

Self-Managed Therapy + Placebo Non-Invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation

For Placebo Non-Invasive Auricular Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation, the technique will be similar to active stimulation. The VaguStim device will be set to 0 Hz by the practitioner, indicating that no actual stimulation is being delivered. Patients will be told that they will not be able to feel the current due to its lower intensity during the intervention, without explaining the true nature of the placebo stimulation.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Self-Management Therapy

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants in this group will receive self management therapy. The self-administered therapy programme will consist of prevention of parafunctional activities, information about sleep hygiene and home exercise programmes, the effectiveness of which has been reported in the literature and is in line with the International Delphi Guidelines. Home exercises will start with 2 times a day, 8 repetitions and progress will be made weekly according to the patient's condition.

Placebo Non-Invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation

Intervention Type DEVICE

Participants in this group will receive self managemenet therapy and placebo vagal nerve stimulation. For Placebo Non-Invasive Auricular Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation, the technique will be similar to active stimulation. The VaguStim device will be set to 0 Hz by the practitioner, indicating that no actual stimulation is being delivered. Patients will be told that they will not be able to feel the current due to its lower intensity during the intervention, without explaining the true nature of the placebo stimulation.

Self-Managed Therapy + Non-Invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation

Non-Invasive Auricular Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation, CE certified (CE No: 2460) non-invasive stimulation device will be applied with. The application will be performed with 3 different sized electrodes (small, medium, large) specially designed according to the size of the inner ear. The stimulation will be delivered bilaterally from the symba concha and tragus regions innervated by the auricular branch of the n.vagus, which guarantees effective and targeted vagal modulation. With reference to the studies in the literature; VaguStim application frequency will be 25 Hz, pulse width 250 µs, current level 0.5 mA with biphasic waveform.

The treatment will continue 3 days a week for a total of 6 weeks, with each session lasting 20 minutes.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Self-Management Therapy

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants in this group will receive self management therapy. The self-administered therapy programme will consist of prevention of parafunctional activities, information about sleep hygiene and home exercise programmes, the effectiveness of which has been reported in the literature and is in line with the International Delphi Guidelines. Home exercises will start with 2 times a day, 8 repetitions and progress will be made weekly according to the patient's condition.

Non-Invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation

Intervention Type DEVICE

Participants will receive Non-Invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation and self management therapy. : Non-Invasive Auricular Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation, CE certified (CE No: 2460) non-invasive stimulation device will be applied with. The application will be performed with 3 different sized electrodes (small, medium, large) specially designed according to the size of the inner ear. The stimulation will be delivered bilaterally from the symba concha and tragus regions innervated by the auricular branch of the n.vagus, which guarantees effective and targeted vagal modulation. With reference to the studies in the literature; VaguStim application frequency will be 25 Hz, pulse width 250 µs, current level 0.5 mA with biphasic waveform. The treatment will continue 3 days a week for a total of 6 weeks, with each session lasting 20 minutes.

Interventions

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Self-Management Therapy

Participants in this group will receive self management therapy. The self-administered therapy programme will consist of prevention of parafunctional activities, information about sleep hygiene and home exercise programmes, the effectiveness of which has been reported in the literature and is in line with the International Delphi Guidelines. Home exercises will start with 2 times a day, 8 repetitions and progress will be made weekly according to the patient's condition.

Intervention Type OTHER

Placebo Non-Invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation

Participants in this group will receive self managemenet therapy and placebo vagal nerve stimulation. For Placebo Non-Invasive Auricular Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation, the technique will be similar to active stimulation. The VaguStim device will be set to 0 Hz by the practitioner, indicating that no actual stimulation is being delivered. Patients will be told that they will not be able to feel the current due to its lower intensity during the intervention, without explaining the true nature of the placebo stimulation.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Non-Invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation

Participants will receive Non-Invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation and self management therapy. : Non-Invasive Auricular Transcutaneous Vagal Nerve Stimulation, CE certified (CE No: 2460) non-invasive stimulation device will be applied with. The application will be performed with 3 different sized electrodes (small, medium, large) specially designed according to the size of the inner ear. The stimulation will be delivered bilaterally from the symba concha and tragus regions innervated by the auricular branch of the n.vagus, which guarantees effective and targeted vagal modulation. With reference to the studies in the literature; VaguStim application frequency will be 25 Hz, pulse width 250 µs, current level 0.5 mA with biphasic waveform. The treatment will continue 3 days a week for a total of 6 weeks, with each session lasting 20 minutes.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* between the ages of 18-45,
* Diagnosed with myogenic TMDs according to TMD-DC Axis I and II criteria,
* Pain intensity of 3 or more during rest and/or chewing according to the Visual Analogue Scale,
* Volunteered to participate in the study and signed the informed consent form,
* Individuals who do not have communication difficulties and whose native language is Turkish will be included in the study.

Exclusion Criteria

* Diagnosed with arthrogenic or mixed type TMDs,
* Severe psychiatric illness such as schizophrenia,
* Previous vagal nerve stimulation or history of vagotomy,
* Have extensive joint damage affecting the jaw, head, neck and shoulder areas, have a history of major trauma, fracture or surgery to these body parts, or are undergoing radiotherapy,
* Diagnosed with cervical disc herniation, cervical radiculopathy or cervical myelopathy,
* History of cardiac disease and being treated for cardiac problems,
* Active implant users such as pacemakers, defibrillators, neurostimulators, cochlear implants and ventricular shunts,
* Failure to understand the study protocol
* Have a history of progressive neurological diseases (such as Parkinson's disease, MS, ALS, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease)
* Acute tinnitus
* Skin problems such as dermatitis, infection, psoriasis, urticaria, acne or eczema at the stimulation site,
* Has any anatomical abnormality that prevents successful placement of the ear electrode,
* and reporting acute tinnitus,
* Pregnant subjects will be excluded from the study
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

45 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Toros University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Ümit YÜZBAŞIOĞLU

Lecturer

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Aydan AYTAR, PhD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

University of Health Sciences (Ankara-Turkey)

Locations

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Toros University 45 Evler Campus

Mersin, , Turkey (Türkiye)

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Turkey (Türkiye)

Central Contacts

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Ümit YÜZBAŞIOĞLU, MSc

Role: CONTACT

+90 532 255 75 06

Ece EKİCİ, MSc

Role: CONTACT

+90 530 073 38 26

Facility Contacts

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Ümit YÜZBAŞIOĞLU

Role: primary

05322557506

Other Identifiers

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TU-FTR-UY-01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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