Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39576571›Full record

Trial reportJournal of cancer survivorship : research and practice2026

Jaw exercise in head and neck cancer patients for prevention of temporomandibular disorders: a randomized controlled trial.

Ellie Saghafi, Kalid Kadhim, Charlotte Andrén Andås, Birgitta Johansson Cahlin, Caterina Finizia, Therese Axelsson, Göran Kjeller, Lisa Tuomi

Registry-linked trialAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04005521 (Preventive Randomized Study Regarding Jaw- and Swallowing Intervention for Patients Receiving Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer), which is not on this map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04005521 naactive not recruitingnot on this map

Preventive Randomized Study Regarding Jaw- and Swallowing Intervention for Patients Receiving Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer: the Effect of Preventive Intervention for Trismus, Swallowing Function and Quality of Life

TypeinterventionalSponsorSahlgrenska University HospitalRan2019 to 2028Enrolled80ConditionsHead and Neck Neoplasm, Trismus, Deglutition DisordersArmsPreventive intervention
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Ellie SaghafiDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Region Västra Götaland, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 12A, 413 90, Gothenburg, Sweden. ellie.saghafi@vgregion.se.
Kalid KadhimClinic of Orofacial Pain, Public Dental Service, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Charlotte Andrén AndåsDepartment of Orofacial Pain, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Birgitta Johansson CahlinDepartment of Orofacial Pain, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Caterina FiniziaDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Therese AxelssonDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Göran KjellerDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Region Västra Götaland, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 12A, 413 90, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Lisa TuomiDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Funding

Svenska Tandläkare-Sällskapet 1690
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo prospectively evaluate the effect of a preventive jaw-training intervention program on the development of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in patients treated for head and neck cancer (HNC).

methodsWe randomized 58 consecutive patients with squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck area into two groups before initiation of a curatively intended oncologic treatment: training with a jaw mobilizer once a day or a control group without active exercise. A comprehensive examination according to diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (DC/TMD) was conducted at baseline (before oncologic treatment) 6 and 12 months after completed radiation therapy (RT). The patients recorded training frequency in a diary.

resultsThere were significant differences in the changes of maximal incisal opening (MIO) between the intervention and control groups at 6 and 12 months compared to baseline (p = 0.010 and p = 0.012, respectively) with more deterioration in the control group. The control group had a higher prevalence of TMD diagnosis at the 6-month follow-up (p = 0.010) and a close to significant level at the 12-month follow-up (p = 0.055).

conclusionThis unique study, which evaluates the effect of a preventive jaw-training program for prevention of TMD in patients with HNC undergoing high dose RT, found that the preventive jaw-training program could prevent the deterioration of MIO and development of TMD. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: This preventive exercise program could prevent the deterioration in MIO and the development of TMD in HNC patients, leading to less pain and better jaw function.

Indexed as

Exercise TherapyHead and Neck NeoplasmsJawTemporomandibular Joint DisordersAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesHead and neck neoplasmsInterventionPreventionRadiotherapySymptomTemporomandibular disorders (TMD)Trismus

Identifiers

PMID39576571
PMCPMC13144218

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.