Manual Therapy in Vagus Nerve Neuromodulation for the Treatment of Bruxism
NCT ID: NCT07074964
Last Updated: 2025-07-24
Study Results
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Basic Information
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NOT_YET_RECRUITING
NA
40 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2025-10-01
2028-12-01
Brief Summary
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Sleep bruxism is defined as the repetitive activity of the masticatory muscles, characterized by clenching or grinding of the teeth. Studies confirm the association between sleep bruxism and episodes of masticatory muscle activity, with an increase in autonomic sympathetic activity observed during transient periods of sleep. This is associated with nocturnal awakenings, related to increased cardiac, cerebral (cortical arousal), respiratory, and muscular activity.
Objectives: The main objectives are "To study the mean power frequency (MPF) of the masticatory muscles measured by surface electromyography (sEMG) in the general population (with and without bruxism according to ICSD-3 and DC/TMD criteria)"; and "to assess the effectiveness of manual therapy applied to structures adjacent to the vagus nerve based on its impact on orofacial pain and symptomatology in patients with bruxism".
Material and Methods:
A cross-sectional observational study and a randomized controlled experimental study were designed. The first will analyze data collected by sEMG in the masticatory muscles, at rest and during maximum clenching, comparing results between bruxists and non-bruxists. The second will analyze, compared to the control group, data collected on signs (range of motion alteration, presence of sounds), symptomatology (pain, headaches, sensation of blockage, functional limitation) caused by bruxism, sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)), oral health-related quality of life (OHIP-14), stress and anxiety status (Perceived Stress Scale and GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), respectively), and sympathetic-vagal balance (Heart Rate Variability in its frequency and time domains) before and after a manual therapy intervention on structures adjacent to the vagus nerve pathway (head, neck, thorax, diaphragm, abdomen). The collected data will be analyzed using IBM SPSS® version 25.0.0.
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Detailed Description
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Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
SINGLE
Study Groups
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Group 1 (autonomic nervous system intervention)
Manual therapy applied to structures adjacent to the vagus nerve along its pathway (head, neck, thorax, diaphragm, abdomen).
Autonomic nervous system intervention
Manual therapy applied to structures adjacent to the vagus nerve along its pathway. Head: CV4 tecnique and Jugular foramen tecnique; Neck: stretching and mobilization of the superficial and deep layers; Thorax: Longitudinal and transverse translations of the mediastinum; Diaphragm tecniques, Abdomen: Stretching of the gastro-phrenic ligament with lowering of the stomach and general treatment of the small intestine and the mesentery. Stretching, compression and traction movements will be carried out on these structures.
Group 2 (control)
The hands will be placed on areas similar to those in the intervention group, with the fingertips in contact with the skin of the area. A slight finger pressure will be applied.
Slight finger pressure
The hands will be placed on areas similar to those in the intervention group, with the fingertips in contact with the skin of the area. A slight finger pressure will be applied, which would not have the same effect as the proposed techniques, since those techniques require a greater intensity of manipulation of the described tissues and structures.
Interventions
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Autonomic nervous system intervention
Manual therapy applied to structures adjacent to the vagus nerve along its pathway. Head: CV4 tecnique and Jugular foramen tecnique; Neck: stretching and mobilization of the superficial and deep layers; Thorax: Longitudinal and transverse translations of the mediastinum; Diaphragm tecniques, Abdomen: Stretching of the gastro-phrenic ligament with lowering of the stomach and general treatment of the small intestine and the mesentery. Stretching, compression and traction movements will be carried out on these structures.
Slight finger pressure
The hands will be placed on areas similar to those in the intervention group, with the fingertips in contact with the skin of the area. A slight finger pressure will be applied, which would not have the same effect as the proposed techniques, since those techniques require a greater intensity of manipulation of the described tissues and structures.
Other Intervention Names
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Regular or frequent tooth grinding sounds occurring during sleep and the presence of one or more of the following clinical signs and symptoms:
1. Abnormal tooth wear consistent with reports of clenching/grinding the teeth during sleep
2. Transient morning pain or fatigue in the jaw muscles; and/or temporal headaches; and/or jaw locking upon awakening, consistent with reports of clenching/grinding the teeth during sleep
2. Sleep bruxism diagnosed according to the RDC/TMD:
* Interview: During the interview, subjects are asked about the following symptoms: reports of regular or frequent tooth grinding during sleep, muscle fatigue, temporal headache, transient morning muscle pain in the jaw, and jaw locking upon awakening.
* Physical examination: Presence or signs suggesting abnormal dental wear, such as teeth with flattened cusps and/or loss of contour with dentin exposure.
* Hypertrophy of the masticatory muscles
* Dental impressions on the tongue
* Linea alba on the cheeks along the bite line
* Damage to dental tissue
* Excessive dental wear
3. A minimum pain intensity score of 3 on the Visual Analogue Scale at the masseter and temporal algometry points.
4. EMGs with elevated mean power frequency for the masseter and temporalis muscles (to be defined in the first clinical phase-observational study).
5. Age between 18 and 40 years.
Exclusion Criteria
2. Loss of more than 2 teeth, except for the third molar.
3. Use of muscle relaxant medication or medications that may influence motor behavior.
4. Having received botulinum toxin treatment in the last 6 months.
5. Periodontal disorders or current orthodontic treatment or prosthesis.
6. Partial or total dentures.
7. History of medical disorders (severe psychiatric, physiological, or neurological conditions).
18 Years
40 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
OTHER
Escoles Universitaries Gimbernat
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Maider Sánchez Padilla
Principal Investigator
Locations
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Universitat International de Catalunya (UIC)
Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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References
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Nalamliang N, Sumonsiri P, Thongudomporn U. Masticatory performance is influenced by masticatory muscle activity balance and the cumulative occlusal contact area. Arch Oral Biol. 2021 Jun;126:105113. doi: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2021.105113. Epub 2021 Mar 30.
Merletti R, Muceli S. Tutorial. Surface EMG detection in space and time: Best practices. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2019 Dec;49:102363. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2019.102363. Epub 2019 Oct 19.
Lobbezoo F, Aarab G, Ahlers MO, Baad-Hansen L, Bernhardt O, Castrillon EE, Giannakopoulos NN, Gronbeck A, Hauschild J, Holst-Knudsen M, Skovlund N, Thymi M, Svensson P. Consensus-based clinical guidelines for ambulatory electromyography and contingent electrical stimulation in sleep bruxism. J Oral Rehabil. 2020 Feb;47(2):164-169. doi: 10.1111/joor.12876. Epub 2019 Sep 11.
Lodetti G, Mapelli A, Musto F, Rosati R, Sforza C. EMG spectral characteristics of masticatory muscles and upper trapezius during maximum voluntary teeth clenching. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2012 Feb;22(1):103-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2011.10.008. Epub 2011 Nov 17.
Berni KC, Dibai-Filho AV, Pires PF, Rodrigues-Bigaton D. Accuracy of the surface electromyography RMS processing for the diagnosis of myogenous temporomandibular disorder. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2015 Aug;25(4):596-602. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2015.05.004. Epub 2015 May 27.
Kadioglu MB, Sezer M, Elbasan B. Effects of Manual Therapy and Home Exercise Treatment on Pain, Stress, Sleep, and Life Quality in Patients with Bruxism: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Medicina (Kaunas). 2024 Dec 4;60(12):2007. doi: 10.3390/medicina60122007.
Wojcik M, Siatkowski I. The effect of cranial techniques on the heart rate variability response to psychological stress test in firefighter cadets. Sci Rep. 2023 May 13;13(1):7780. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-34093-z.
von Piekartz H, Bleiss S, Herzer S, Hall T, Ballenberger N. Does combining oro-facial manual therapy with bruxism neuroscience education affect pain and function in cases of awake bruxism? A pilot study. J Oral Rehabil. 2024 Sep;51(9):1692-1700. doi: 10.1111/joor.13740. Epub 2024 Jun 18.
Matusik PS, Zhong C, Matusik PT, Alomar O, Stein PK. Neuroimaging Studies of the Neural Correlates of Heart Rate Variability: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med. 2023 Jan 28;12(3):1016. doi: 10.3390/jcm12031016.
Perrotta AS, Jeklin AT, Hives BA, Meanwell LE, Warburton DER. Validity of the Elite HRV Smartphone Application for Examining Heart Rate Variability in a Field-Based Setting. J Strength Cond Res. 2017 Aug;31(8):2296-2302. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001841.
Schaffarczyk M, Rogers B, Reer R, Gronwald T. Validity of the Polar H10 Sensor for Heart Rate Variability Analysis during Resting State and Incremental Exercise in Recreational Men and Women. Sensors (Basel). 2022 Aug 30;22(17):6536. doi: 10.3390/s22176536.
Michalek-Zrabkowska M, Martynowicz H, Wieckiewicz M, Smardz J, Poreba R, Mazur G. Cardiovascular Implications of Sleep Bruxism-A Systematic Review with Narrative Summary and Future Perspectives. J Clin Med. 2021 May 21;10(11):2245. doi: 10.3390/jcm10112245.
Thymi M, Shimada A, Lobbezoo F, Svensson P. Clinical jaw-muscle symptoms in a group of probable sleep bruxers. J Dent. 2019 Jun;85:81-87. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2019.05.016. Epub 2019 May 11.
Lobbezoo F, Ahlberg J, Raphael KG, Wetselaar P, Glaros AG, Kato T, Santiago V, Winocur E, De Laat A, De Leeuw R, Koyano K, Lavigne GJ, Svensson P, Manfredini D. International consensus on the assessment of bruxism: Report of a work in progress. J Oral Rehabil. 2018 Nov;45(11):837-844. doi: 10.1111/joor.12663. Epub 2018 Jun 21.
Kuang B, Li D, Lobbezoo F, de Vries R, Hilgevoord A, de Vries N, Huynh N, Lavigne G, Aarab G. Associations between sleep bruxism and other sleep-related disorders in adults: a systematic review. Sleep Med. 2022 Jan;89:31-47. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2021.11.008. Epub 2021 Nov 19.
Amorim CSM, Espirito Santo AS, Sommer M, Marques AP. Effect of Physical Therapy in Bruxism Treatment: A Systematic Review. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2018 Jun;41(5):389-404. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2017.10.014.
Matusz K, Maciejewska-Szaniec Z, Gredes T, Pobudek-Radzikowska M, Glapinski M, Gorna N, Przystanska A. Common therapeutic approaches in sleep and awake bruxism - an overview. Neurol Neurochir Pol. 2022;56(6):455-463. doi: 10.5603/PJNNS.a2022.0073. Epub 2022 Nov 29.
Abe S, Huynh NT, Kato T, Rompre PH, Landry-Schonbeck A, Landry ML, de Grandmont P, Kawano F, Lavigne GJ. Oral appliances reduce masticatory muscle activity-sleep bruxism metrics independently of changes in heart rate variability. Clin Oral Investig. 2022 Sep;26(9):5653-5662. doi: 10.1007/s00784-022-04520-y. Epub 2022 May 10.
Other Identifiers
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TMBruxism
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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