Clinical trial · Interventional
Manual Therapy on Oral Opening, Swallow Function and Upper Quarter Mobility on Head and Neck Cancer Survivors
Effects of Manual Therapy on Oral Opening, Swallow Function, and Upper Quarter Mobility in Chilean Survivors of Head and Neck Cancer: A Study Protocol for a Controlled, Randomized Study (MATEO Study, MAnual ThErapy for Oral Opening).
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
Trismus has been reported as the second most common comorbidity in survivors of head and neck cancer (HNC). It is mainly associated with post-radiotherapy subcutaneous fibrosis, muscular atrophy, damage to neurological structures in the neck, or a combination of all, affecting masticatory musculature. In addition to this, the loss of flexibility and strength in the shoulder has also been shown to be related to deficits in the function and quality of life of these patients. The goal of this clinical trial is to determinate the effectiveness and safety of Manual Therapy (MT) on Oral Opening, Swallow Function, as well as the mobility of the upper quarter, the strength of cervical musculature, pain, functionality, and the perception of quality of life in head and neck cancer survivors. Participants will be assigned randomly to the study groups: a) manual therapy program and control motor exercises and b) motor control exercises (usual care). The assessment refers to a baseline form (at the beginning of the study), at 6 weeks and at 6 weeks of patient follow-up.
Conditions
Conditions (3)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dysfunction | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| Head and Neck Cancer | Malignant Head and Neck Neoplasm | ALIAS | 0.90 |
| Trismus | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
Interventions
Interventions (2)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual Therapy | Other | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Motor control exercises | Other | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (2)
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- Manual Therapy
- description
- Manual Therapy-based intervention: the session will be performed with the patient in a supine position. If they cannot reach this position, it can be done with the patient sitting in a chair to receive the treatment. The selected maneuvers will focus on cervical, masticatory, and shoulder regions. Besides, intraoral maneuvers will be made using latex gloves, for masseter, medial, and lateral pterygoid muscles. Subsequently, motor control exercises will be performed
- interventionNames
- Other: Manual Therapy
- type
- ACTIVE_COMPARATOR
- label
- Motor Control
- description
- Motor control (exercise): the session will focus on strengthening and stretching exercises for the cervical, masticatory, and shoulder muscles .
- interventionNames
- Other: Motor control exercises
Primary outcomes (5)
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: * individuals with HNC * individuals over 18 years of age * individuals who have undergone oncological surgery of the head and neck and/or radiotherapy * having finished oncological medical treatment between 3 and 36 months before inclusion * having a medical diagnosis of trismus and/or TMD and/or cervical or shoulder dysfunction * Spanish native speakers Exclusion Criteria: * sequelae of previous stroke * structural instability and/or osteoporosis of the cervical spine, spondylosis, cervical herniated discs * active osteoradionecrosis or open wounds (fistulas, soft tissue necrosis) in the anatomical treatment area * tracheostomized individuals * metastasis or active cancer * refuse to participate.
References
Publications (9)
- BACKGROUNDWissinger E, Griebsch I, Lungershausen J, Foster T, Pashos CL. The economic burden of head and neck cancer: a systematic literature review. Pharmacoeconomics. 2014 Sep;32(9):865-82. doi: 10.1007/s40273-014-0169-3. PMID 24842794
- BACKGROUNDParke SC, Langelier DM, Cheng JT, Kline-Quiroz C, Stubblefield MD. State of Rehabilitation Research in the Head and Neck Cancer Population: Functional Impact vs. Impairment-Focused Outcomes. Curr Oncol Rep. 2022 Apr;24(4):517-532. doi: 10.1007/s11912-022-01227-x. Epub 2022 Feb 19. PMID 35182293
- BACKGROUNDKamstra JI, Jager-Wittenaar H, Dijkstra PU, Huisman PM, van Oort RP, van der Laan BF, Roodenburg JL. Oral symptoms and functional outcome related to oral and oropharyngeal cancer. Support Care Cancer. 2011 Sep;19(9):1327-33. doi: 10.1007/s00520-010-0952-4. Epub 2010 Aug 13. PMID 20706851
- BACKGROUNDMcMillan H, Barbon CEA, Cardoso R, Sedory A, Buoy S, Porsche C, Savage K, Mayo L, Hutcheson KA. Manual Therapy for Patients With Radiation-Associated Trismus After Head and Neck Cancer. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2022 May 1;148(5):418-425. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2022.0082. PMID 35297966
- BACKGROUNDOrtiz-Comino L, Martin-Martin L, Galiano-Castillo N, Castro-Martin E, Fernandez-Gualda MA, Lozano-Lozano M, Fernandez-Lao C. The effects of myofascial induction therapy in survivors of head and neck cancer: a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Support Care Cancer. 2022 Dec 17;31(1):49. doi: 10.1007/s00520-022-07482-9. PMID 36526871
- BACKGROUNDCastro-Martin E, Galiano-Castillo N, Fernandez-Lao C, Ortiz-Comino L, Postigo-Martin P, Arroyo-Morales M. Myofascial Induction Therapy Improves the Sequelae of Medical Treatment in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors: A Single-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Cross-Over Study. J Clin Med. 2021 Oct 27;10(21):5003. doi: 10.3390/jcm10215003. PMID 34768520