To evaluate whether adding conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to a standard conservative regimen (patient education, pharmacotherapy, and a home exercise programme) provides additional short- and medium-term benefit for pain, mandibular function, and quality of life in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD).
This was a single-centre, two-arm parallel controlled clinical trial. 48 adults with TMD diagnosed by the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) were enrolled and allocated to a TENS group or a control group. Both groups received identical patient education, a two-week course of dexketoprofen (50 mg/day) plus thiocolchicoside (16 mg/day), and a home exercise programme. The TENS group additionally received conventional TENS (100 Hz, 200 µs, sensory-level, 30 min/session, 5 sessions/week for 2 weeks). Assessments were performed at baseline, after treatment (week 2), and at 3 months (week 12).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
48
Patient education about the resting position of the tongue and mandible and avoidance of parafunctional habits; a two-week pharmacological regimen of dexketoprofen 50 mg/day and thiocolchicoside 16 mg/day; and a standardised home exercise programme comprising active and passive jaw range-of-motion, isometric, and postural exercises
A charge-balanced biphasic waveform with a pulse width of 200 µs, a frequency of 100 Hz, and an amplitude adjusted to produce a comfortable, non-painful paraesthesia using an Intelect® TENS device. Sessions lasted 30 minutes and were applied 5 days per week for 2 weeks (10 sessions)
Necmettin Erbakan University
Konya, Konya, Turkey (Türkiye)
Pain at rest assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Pain intensity at rest will be evaluated using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS), ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Higher scores represent worse outcome/greater pain intensity.
Time frame: Baseline, week 2 (immediately post-treatment), and week 12 (3 months follow-up)
Pain during jaw function assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Pain intensity during jaw movement/function will be evaluated using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS), where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "the worst possible pain." Higher scores reflect greater pain intensity.
Time frame: Baseline, week 2 (immediately post-treatment), and week 12 (3 months follow-up)
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction assessed by the Modified Helkimo Clinical Dysfunction Index
Clinical dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) will be evaluated using the Modified Helkimo Clinical Dysfunction Index. The index yields a total score ranging from 0 to 25, categorised as follows: 0 = clinically symptom-free (Di0), 1-4 = mild dysfunction (DiI), 5-9 = moderate dysfunction (DiII), and 10-25 = severe dysfunction (DiIII). Higher total scores indicate worse clinical dysfunction.
Time frame: Baseline, week 2 (immediately post-treatment), and week 12 (3 months follow-up)
Mandibular range of motion measured in millimeters using a digital caliper
Mandibular movements, including maximum unassisted mouth opening, maximum assisted mouth opening, right/left lateral excursions, and protrusion, will be measured in millimeters (mm) using a digital caliper/ruler. Higher millimeter values represent greater range of motion and better mobility.
Time frame: Baseline, week 2 (immediately post-treatment), and week 12 (3 months follow-up)
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