Comparison of the Effects of Classical Massage and Conventional Treatment Methods in Phone Addicted Bruxist Patients

Bruxism is a common multidisciplinary condition characterized by involuntary teeth clenching or grinding that occurs during sleep or wakefulness. Although bruxism episodes are typically short in duration, they can lead to significant complications involving the masticatory muscles and postural system, including temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain and dysfunction, headaches, dental wear, hypersensitivity, tooth pain, hypertrophy of the masticatory muscles, implant fractures, and joint sounds. While its etiology is not fully understood, bruxism is believed to be multifactorial. Studies suggest that a lifestyle characterized by chronic stress and smartphone dependency may trigger or exacerbate bruxism. Additionally, poor sleep quality and postural abnormalities have been shown to influence both bruxism and emotional stress levels, while low levels of physical activity may further impair sleep and increase stress. The aim of this study is to improve symptoms and enhance the quality of life in individuals with smartphone addiction and bruxism complaints through the application of different physiotherapy interventions. Following the approval of the Ethics Committee of Bartın University Vocational School of Health Services, the study will be initiated. Data collection will take place between May 2025 and September 2025. A total of 30 university students diagnosed with bruxism and enrolled at Bartın University will be included in the study. Participants will be randomly assigned using a coin toss method into two groups: a massage group (MG, n=15) receiving classical face and neck massage, and a treatment group (TG, n=15) undergoing a conventional physiotherapy program including transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), therapeutic ultrasound, and infrared heat therapy. After obtaining written informed consent from eligible participants, all assessments will be conducted in the same order by a blinded assessor. Following baseline evaluations, participants will undergo 10 sessions of their respective treatment protocols, each lasting approximately 40 minutes. The MG will receive classical massage, while the TG will receive TENS, ultrasound, and infrared therapy. After completion of the intervention sessions, post-treatment evaluations will be carried out by the same assessor, and the data will be subjected to statistical analysis.