%0 Journal Article
%A Prott, Lea S.
%A Kaldenhoven, Vanessa
%A Hugger, Alfons
%A Langner, Robert
%A Gierthmuehlen, Petra C.
%A Gierthmuehlen, Mortimer
%T Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Myoarthropathic Symptoms Associated With Temporomandibular Disorders—A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial
%J Journal of oral rehabilitation
%V 52
%N 12
%@ 0305-182X
%C Oxford [u.a.]
%I Wiley-Blackwell
%M FZJ-2026-00916
%P 2351 - 2360
%D 2025
%X ABSTRACTBackground: Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a safe and feasible treatment for a variety of acuteand chronic pain conditions. However, no evidence about taVNS effectiveness in patients with chronic pain associated with tem-poromandibular disorders (TMD) is available.Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of and compliance with taVNS in participants experiencing chronic TMD pain and poten-tial effects on pain, psychological well-being, muscle activity, and kinematics.Methods: Twenty adults with chronic TMD pain were randomised to receive taVNS (n = 10) or sham (n = 10). In the taVNSgroup, stimulation was performed on the left tragus for 4 h daily (25 Hz, pulse width 250 μs, 28 s on/32 s off). In the sham group,an inactive non-functional sham electrode was used. Patient-reported outcome measures (GCPS, PHQ-9, GAD-7, PHQ-15, andOHIP- G14), muscle activity, and kinematics were assessed at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. Compliance was assessed using asmartphone app, which recorded daily stimulation time and intensity.Results: Recruitment and retention rates were high (100% and 90%, respectively), with 83% adherence to the intervention.Participants receiving taVNS showed a large effect on oral health-related quality of life, and at least a small but potentially impor-tant effect on pain intensity, anxiety, depression, severity of somatic symptoms, muscle activity, and kinematics. However, noneof these differences were statistically significant. No serious adverse events were identified.
%F PUB:(DE-HGF)16
%9 Journal Article
%R 10.1111/joor.70039
%U https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/1052301