The Effects of Kinesiological Taping and Exercise on Pain, Proprioception, Sleep, and Psychological State in Individuals with Bruxism

Year 2025, Volume: 10 Issue: 3, 254 - 261, 15.09.2025

Senem Coşkun Karataş , Burak Menek

https://doi.org/10.26453/otjhs.1686259

Abstract

Objective: Bruxism, characterized by involuntary teeth grinding or clenching, can lead to pain, functional impairments, and reduced quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of combining kinesiology taping with exercise on pain, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) range of motion, sleep quality, depression levels, and cervical proprioception in individuals with bruxism.
Materials and Methods: A total of 30 participants were randomly assigned to two groups: a conventional therapy (CT) group and a conventional exercise + kinesiology taping (KT) group. Both groups underwent a two-week treatment program. Pain, cervical joint position sense (CJPS), range of motion (ROM), sleep quality, and depression levels were assessed before and after treatment.
Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in pain, depression levels, and sleep quality after treatment (p<0.05). The KT group demonstrated enhanced CJPS and maximum mouth opening, while the CT group showed significant improvements in ROM (p<0.05). However, no significant differences were found between the groups in any outcomes (p>0.05).
Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that exercise exerts beneficial effects on pain, sleep quality, depressive symptoms, and joint functionality in individuals diagnosed with bruxism. Comparable positive outcomes were observed when exercise was applied alone and in combination with kinesiology taping; however, the addition of taping did not confer any additional clinical benefit.

Keywords

Bruxism , exercise , kinesiology taping , physiotherapy

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval was obtained from the Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Istanbul Medipol University (Date: 08.06.2023, decision no: 526). All procedures adhered to the ethical standards set forth in the Declaration of Helsinki for research involving human subjects. Informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to their enrollment in the study.

Bruksizmi Olan Bireylerde Kinezyolojik Bantlama ve Egzersizin Ağrı, Propriyosepsiyon, Uyku ve Psikolojik Durum Üzerine Etkisi

Abstract

Amaç: Bruksizm, istemsiz diş sıkma veya gıcırdatma ile karakterize olup ağrıya, fonksiyonel bozulmalara ve yaşam kalitesinde azalmaya yol açabilir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, kinezyoloji bantlaması ile egzersizin birlikte uygulanmasının, bruksizmi olan bireylerde ağrı, temporomandibular eklem (TME) hareket açıklığı, uyku kalitesi, depresyon düzeyi ve servikal propriyosepsiyon üzerindeki etkilerini değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır.
Materyal ve Metot: Çalışmaya toplam 30 katılımcı rastgele geleneksel tedavi (GT) grubu ve geleneksel egzersiz + kinezyolojik bantlama (KT) grubuna ayrıldı. Her iki grup da iki haftalık bir tedavi programına dahil edildi. Tedavi öncesi ve sonrası ağrı, servikal eklem pozisyon hissi (CJPS), hareket açıklığı (ROM), uyku kalitesi ve depresyon düzeyleri değerlendirildi.
Bulgular: Tedavi sonrasında her iki grupta da ağrı, depresyon düzeyleri ve uyku kalitesinde anlamlı iyileşmeler sağlandı (p<0,05). KT grubunda servikal eklem pozisyon hissi (CJPS) ve maksimum ağız açıklığında, GT grubunda ise hareket açıklığında (ROM) belirgin gelişmeler gözlendi (p<0,05). Ancak, tedavi sonrası elde edilen tüm sonuçlar açısından iki grup arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark bulunmadı (p>0,05).
Sonuç: Bu çalışma, egzersizin bruksizmi olan bireylerde ağrı, uyku kalitesi, depresyon düzeyleri ve eklem fonksiyonu üzerinde olumlu etkileri olduğunu göstermektedir. Egzersizin tek başına veya kinezyoloji bantlaması ile birlikte uygulanmasında benzer olumlu sonuçlar elde edilmiştir; ancak bantlamanın ek bir klinik fayda sağlamadığı görülmüştür.

Keywords

Bruksizm , egzersiz , fizyoterapi , kinezyolojik bantlama

Ethical Statement

İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi Girişimsel Olmayan Klinik Araştırmalar Etik Kurulu'ndan etik onay alındı ​​(Tarih: 08.06.2023, karar no: 526). Tüm prosedürler, Helsinki Bildirgesi'nde insan denekleri içeren araştırmalar için belirlenen etik standartlara uygun olarak yürütüldü. Çalışmaya dahil edilmeden önce tüm katılımcılardan aydınlatılmış onam alındı.

References

• Lobbezoo F, Ahlberg J, Raphael KG, et al. International consensus on the assessment of bruxism: Report of a work in progress. J Oral Rehabil. 2018;45(11):837-844. doi:10.1111/joor.12663
• Bayar GR, Tutuncu R, Acikel C. Psychopathological profile of patients with different forms of bruxism. Clin Oral Investig. 2012;16(1):305-311. doi:10.1007/s00784-010-0492-9
• Romero-Reyes M, Uyanik JM. Orofacial pain management: current perspectives. J Pain Res. 2014;7:99-115. doi:10.2147/JPR.S37593
• Manfredini D, Lobbezoo F. Role of psychosocial factors in the etiology of bruxism. J Orofac Pain. 2009;23(2):153-166.
• Colonna A, Manfredini D. Bruxism: An orthodontist’s perspective. Seminars in Orthodontics. 2024;30(3):318-324. doi:10.1053/j.sodo.2023.12.010
• Shah SU, Khan SS, Moin S, Younus S, Jabeen H, Safeer K. Effectiveness of manual therapy, physical therapy ın conjunction with patient education for temporomandibular disorders: a randomized controlled study. J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad. 2024;36(2):373-379. doi:10.55519/JAMC-02-13325
• Strausz T, Ahlberg J, Lobbezoo F, et al. Awareness of tooth grinding and clenching from adolescence to young adulthood: a nine-year follow-up. J Oral Rehabil. 2010;37(7):497-500. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2842.2010.02071.x
• Shimada A, Ishigaki S, Matsuka Y, et al. Effects of exercise therapy on painful temporomandibular disorders. J Oral Rehabil. 2019;46(5):475-481. doi:10.1111/joor.12770
• Amorim CSM, Espirito Santo AS, Sommer M, Marques AP. Effect of Physical Therapy in Bruxism Treatment: A Systematic Review. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2018;41(5):389-404. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2017.10.014
• Ohlmann B, Waldecker M, Leckel M, et al. Correlations between Sleep Bruxism and Temporomandibular Disorders. J Clin Med. 2020;9(2):611. doi:10.3390/jcm9020611
• Volkan-Yazici M, Kolsuz ME, Kafa N, Yazici G, Evli C, Orhan K. Comparison of Kinesio Taping and manual therapy in the treatment of patients with bruxism using shear-wave elastography-A randomised clinical trial. Int J Clin Pract. 2021;75(12):e14902. doi:10.1111/ijcp.14902
• Keskinruzgar A, Kucuk AO, Yavuz GY, Koparal M, Caliskan ZG, Utkun M. Comparison of kinesio taping and occlusal splint in the management of myofascial pain in patients with sleep bruxism. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2019;32(1):1-6. doi:10.3233/BMR-181329
• Osses-Anguita ÁE, Sánchez-Sánchez T, Soto-Goñi XA, et al. Awake and Sleep Bruxism Prevalence and Their Associated Psychological Factors in First-Year University Students: A Pre-Mid-Post COVID-19 Pandemic Comparison. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(3):2452. doi:10.3390/ijerph20032452
• Kadıoğlu MB, Sezer M, Elbasan B. Effects of Manual Therapy and Home Exercise Treatment on Pain, Stress, Sleep, and Life Quality in Patients with Bruxism: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Medicina (Kaunas). 2024;60(12):2007. doi:10.3390/medicina60122007
• Yazici G, Kafa N, Kolsuz ME, Volkan-Yazici M, Evli C, Orhan K. Evaluation of single session physical therapy methods in bruxism patients using shear wave ultrasonography. Cranio. 2023;41(1):41-47. doi:10.1080/08869634.2020.1812817
• Proske U, Gandevia SC. The proprioceptive senses: their roles in signaling body shape, body position and movement, and muscle force. Physiol Rev. 2012;92(4):1651-1697. doi:10.1152/physrev.00048.2011
• Heller GZ, Manuguerra M, Chow R. How to analyze the Visual Analogue Scale: Myths, truths and clinical relevance. Scand J Pain. 2016;13:67-75. doi:10.1016/j.sjpain.2016.06.012
• Ikebe K, Hazeyama T, Iwase K, et al. Association of symptomless TMJ sounds with occlusal force and masticatory performance in older adults. J Oral Rehabil. 2008;35(5):317-323. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2842.2007.01841.x
• García-Pérez-Juana D, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C, Arias-Buría JL, Cleland JA, Plaza-Manzano G, Ortega-Santiago R. Changes in Cervicocephalic Kinesthetic Sensibility, Widespread Pressure Pain Sensitivity, and Neck Pain After Cervical Thrust Manipulation in Patients With Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2018;41(7):551-560. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2018.02.004
• Gu Q, Zhao X, Lin L, Teo WP, Liu L, Yuan S. Effects of open-skill and closed-skill exercise on subthreshold depression in female adolescents: A randomized controlled trial. Int J Clin Health Psychol. 2024;24(4):100512. doi:10.1016/j.ijchp.2024.100512
• Yılmaz M, Kıraç Y, Sahin MK. Sleep quality and related factors in a sample of Turkish healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study. Int J Clin Pract. 2021;75(11):e14813. doi:10.1111/ijcp.14813
• Yao L, Sadeghirad B, Li M, et al. Management of chronic pain secondary to temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised trials. BMJ. 2023;383:e076226. doi:10.1136/bmj-2023-076226
• Miçooğulları M, Yüksel İ, Angın S. Effect of pain on cranio-cervico-mandibular function and postural stability in people with temporomandibular joint disorders. Korean J Pain. 2024;37(2):164-177. doi:10.3344/kjp.23301
• Agyenkwa SK, Mustafaoglu R, Yeldan I. Therapeutic Effects of Kinesiology Taping Versus Self-Mobilization on Neck Pain, Proprioception, Muscle Activity, and Respiratory Muscle Strength Among Prolonged Electronic Device Users. A Randomized Controlled Trial. Physiother Res Int. 2025;30(2):e70061. doi:10.1002/pri.70061
• Menek B, Tayboga UI. Comparison of the impacts of percussion massage therapy, dynamic stretching, and kinesiology taping techniques on functional performance, muscular strength, and proprioception in the shoulder. Work. 2025;81(1):2389-2398. doi:10.1177/10519815251317309
• Alahmari KA, Reddy RS, Tedla JS, et al. The effect of Kinesio taping on cervical proprioception in athletes with mechanical neck pain-a placebo-controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2020;21(1):648. doi:10.1186/s12891-020-03681-9
• Zhang L, Xu L, Wu D, Yu C, Fan S, Cai B. Effectiveness of exercise therapy versus occlusal splint therapy for the treatment of painful temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Palliat Med. 2021;10(6):6122-6132. doi:10.21037/apm-21-451
• Alqahtani AS, Parveen S. Kinesio Taping as a Therapeutic Tool for Masticatory Myofascial Pain Syndrome-An Insight View. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(5):3872. doi:10.3390/ijerph20053872
• Avan GNP, Erdoğan A, Cinemre B, Kulaksızoğlu B, Metin Ö. Bruxism and Sleep Disorders in Patients Diagnosed With Depressive Disorder and Anxiety Disorder Using Antidepressants. J Oral Rehabil. 2025;52(1):57-63. doi:10.1111/joor.13875
• Flueraşu MI, Bocşan IC, Țig IA, Iacob SM, Popa D, Buduru S. The Epidemiology of Bruxism in Relation to Psychological Factors. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(2):691. doi:10.3390/ijerph19020691