Comparison of the Effect of Pain Neuroscience Education Combined With Physiotherapy, and Physiotherapy Alone in Temporomandibular Disorders
NCT ID: NCT07147764
Last Updated: 2025-10-03
Study Results
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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RECRUITING
NA
36 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2025-09-14
2026-06-30
Brief Summary
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Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups:
Control Group: Physiotherapy only
PNE Group: Physiotherapy plus Pain Neuroscience Education
Both groups will receive their respective treatments for a set period of time.
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Detailed Description
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Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
NONE
Study Groups
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Control group (CG): Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy treatment programs include therapeutic ultrasound, muscle relaxation techniques, range of motion exercises, and joint and soft tissue mobilization.
Pain Neuroscience Group (PNEG): Physiotherapy + Pain Neuroscience Education
Pain Neuroscience Education
PNE sessions will be conducted in addition to physiotherapy programs for intervention groups. PNE sessions will occupy half of each session during the first two weeks. Physiotherapists trained in PNE will deliver sessions using a combination of metaphors, animated videos, and scientifically accurate descriptions. The same physiotherapist will lead both sessions with the same patient.
Active learning techniques will include:
Connecting new information with prior knowledge. Operationalizing key pain concepts into individual contexts. Facilitated problem-solving and critical reflection.
Interventions
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Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy treatment programs include therapeutic ultrasound, muscle relaxation techniques, range of motion exercises, and joint and soft tissue mobilization.
Pain Neuroscience Education
PNE sessions will be conducted in addition to physiotherapy programs for intervention groups. PNE sessions will occupy half of each session during the first two weeks. Physiotherapists trained in PNE will deliver sessions using a combination of metaphors, animated videos, and scientifically accurate descriptions. The same physiotherapist will lead both sessions with the same patient.
Active learning techniques will include:
Connecting new information with prior knowledge. Operationalizing key pain concepts into individual contexts. Facilitated problem-solving and critical reflection.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Chronic TMD pain, defined as experiencing pain for at least six months and feeling the pain during the last 30 days
* Age between 18-65 years
Exclusion Criteria
* Severe depression (medical diagnoses)
* Previous diagnosis of uncontrolled psychiatric disorder neurodegenerative diseases
* Clinical history of tumors in the craniofacial region
* Patients in the post dental surgery period
* Patients who were submitted to previous physical therapy in the past year or to any health/pain education strategy
* Pregnant women
* Infections, whiplash-associated disorders and with chronic degenerative inflammatory or neurologic disorders
18 Years
65 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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Medipol University
OTHER
Ainaz Shahedi
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Ainaz Shahedi
MSc Candidate in Physiotherapy, Istanbul Medipol University
Principal Investigators
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Gizem Ergezen Şahin, Dr. Assistant Professor
Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation/Istanbul Medipol University
Locations
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Istanbul Medipol University
Istanbul, Kavacik, Turkey (Türkiye)
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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References
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Justribo-Manion C, Mesa-Jimenez J, Bara-Casaus J, Zuil-Escobar JC, Wachowska K, Alvarez-Bustins G. Additional effects of therapeutic exercise and education on manual therapy for chronic temporomandibular disorders treatment: a randomized clinical trial. Physiother Theory Pract. 2025 Jan;41(1):12-27. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2024.2316305. Epub 2024 Feb 14.
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.
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Kasimis K, Apostolou T, Kallistratos I, Lytras D, Iakovidis P. Effects of Manual Therapy Plus Pain Neuroscience Education with Integrated Motivational Interviewing in Individuals with Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study. Medicina (Kaunas). 2024 Mar 29;60(4):556. doi: 10.3390/medicina60040556.
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Yao L, Sadeghirad B, Li M, Li J, Wang Q, Crandon HN, Martin G, Morgan R, Florez ID, Hunskaar BS, Wells J, Moradi S, Zhu Y, Ahmed MM, Gao Y, Cao L, Yang K, Tian J, Li J, Zhong L, Couban RJ, Guyatt GH, Agoritsas T, Busse JW. Management of chronic pain secondary to temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised trials. BMJ. 2023 Dec 15;383:e076226. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2023-076226.
Urbanski P, Trybulec B, Pihut M. The Application of Manual Techniques in Masticatory Muscles Relaxation as Adjunctive Therapy in the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Dec 8;18(24):12970. doi: 10.3390/ijerph182412970.
Ferrillo M, Giudice A, Marotta N, Fortunato F, Di Venere D, Ammendolia A, Fiore P, de Sire A. Pain Management and Rehabilitation for Central Sensitization in Temporomandibular Disorders: A Comprehensive Review. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Oct 12;23(20):12164. doi: 10.3390/ijms232012164.
Garstka AA, Kozowska L, Kijak K, Brzozka M, Gronwald H, Skomro P, Lietz-Kijak D. Accurate Diagnosis and Treatment of Painful Temporomandibular Disorders: A Literature Review Supplemented by Own Clinical Experience. Pain Res Manag. 2023 Jan 31;2023:1002235. doi: 10.1155/2023/1002235. eCollection 2023.
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A. Aggarwal, J. Gadekar, and P. Kakodkar, "Role of Myofascial Release Technique on Mobility and Function in Temporomandibular Joint Disorder Patients with Neck Pain," J. Dent. Res. Rev., vol. 7, no. Suppl 1, 2020
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Other Identifiers
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E-10840098-202.3.02-2936
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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