This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of dry needling in patients with functional temporomandibular pain syndrome by comparing standard rehabilitation therapy alone with therapy combined with dry needling to reduce pain, improve jaw function and enhance quality of life.
This prospective, randomized, controlled pilot study aims to evaluate the therapeutic effects of dry needling in patients with functional temporomandibular pain syndrome. A total of 100 participants will be randomly assigned to two groups: an experimental group receiving standard rehabilitation combined with dry needling therapy, and a control group undergoing standard rehabilitation only. The intervention program will consist of ten outpatient rehabilitation sessions conducted over five weeks. Outcome measures will include pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS), temporomandibular joint range of motion, presence of joint sound phenomena, and quality of life assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life - BREF questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire). Measurements will be collected at baseline, immediately after the first therapy session, and upon completion of the treatment cycle. Descriptive statistics will be used for data analysis. The Shapiro-Wilk test will assess data normality. Between-group differences will be analyzed using parametric (t-test) or nonparametric (Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon) tests, depending on data distribution. Correlation analyses will be performed using Pearson's or Spearman's correlation coefficients. Statistical significance will be set at p \< 0.05. All statistical analyses will be conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 29.0 (Armonk, NY, USA).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
100
One dry needling intervention targeting trigger points in the masseter and temporalis muscles during the first treatment session
The therapy will include mobilization, soft tissue relaxation techniques, and specific exercises focused on improving temporomandibular joint mobility and reducing muscle tension.
Faculty of Health Sciences, Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic
Olomouc, Czechia
RECRUITING1. Pain Intensity using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
* Description: Evaluation of subjective pain intensity in the temporomandibular region assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), a continuous scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 represents no pain and 10 represents the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores indicate worse pain intensity. * Measurement Type: Continuous (0-10 scale).
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) Immediately after the first therapy session At completion of the treatment program (after 10 therapy sessions).
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Range of Motion, Joint Sound Phenomena and Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF)
* Description: Measurement of maximal mouth opening and mandibular movement range using a caliper to assess functional improvement of the TMJ. * Measurement Type: Continuous (millimeters). and * Description: Clinical assessment of the presence or absence of joint sounds (clicking, popping, or crepitation) during mandibular movement as an indicator of TMJ functional stability. * Measurement Type: Categorical (present/absent). and * Description: Evaluation of overall quality of life using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, which assesses physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains. * Measurement Type: Continuous (score-based)
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) Immediately after the first therapy session At completion of the treatment program (after 10 therapy sessions)
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