Affiliations: [a] Health Sciences Department, National University of Chimborazo, Riobamba, Ecuador | [b] Departamento de Medicina Física y Rehabilitación, Hidrología Médica, Facultad de Enfermería, Fisioterapia y Podología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Spain | [c] Physiotherapy Department, University of Alcalá, Madrid, Spain | [d] Physiotherapy and Nursery Department, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain | [e] Physiotherapy and Pain Group, University of Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Natalia Romero-Franco, Nursery and Physiotherapy Department, University of Balearic Islands, University Campus, Building Beatriu de Pinòs, Road Valldemossa, Km 7.5, E-07122, Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Tel.: +34 971 172916; E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are prevalent multifactorial pathologies in which the actual role of the cervical region position is controversial. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between the position of the upper cervical rachis and the symptoms of TMD. METHODS: Sixty women were recruited to this study. All of them completed a questionnaire and were subjected to a temporomadibular exploration to create two different groups: a TMD Group (n= 30) – women who suffered TMD symptoms according to the evaluation; and a control group (n= 30) – women who were free from TMD symptoms. Two X-ray examinations were performed in all the women: a lateral one and a frontal one with mouth open to assess the C1–C0 distance and the craniocervical angle. RESULTS: ANOVA showed that the TMD and control women had similar C1–C0 distances and craniocervical angles (p> 0.05). Pearson correlation did not indicate any relationship between the craniocervical position and the symptomatology of TMD (r=- 0.070). CONCLUSIONS: TMD symptomatology is unrelated to alterations in craniocervical position (C0–C1 distance and craniocervical angle). Women with and without TMD showed a similar prevalence of alteration in the craniocervical position.
