Temporomandibular disorders do not correlate with detectable alterations in body posture

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to determine if temporomandibular disorders (TMD) correlate with alterations in body posture detectable through posturography.

Methods and materials: Thirty-five asymptomatic subjects and 35 TMD patients (34 males and 36 females; mean age, 27.7+/-8.6 years) constituted the matched control and TMD groups, respectively. Posturography was performed under four different experimental conditions: (a) eyes open with mandibular rest position (Eyes Open RP); (b) eyes open with dental occlusion (Eyes Open DO); (c) eyes closed with mandibular rest position (Eyes Closed RP); and (d) eyes closed with dental occlusion (Eyes Closed DO). The X, Y, and absolute centre of pressure displacements from the projection of a theoretical barycentre and the sway area, sway length, and sway velocity were recorded as static and dynamic posturographic parameters, respectively.

Results: Generally, no differences were found in any of these parameters between the groups and between the RP and DO within either Eyes Open/Closed conditions. The only differences were found under Eyes Closed as compared to Eyes Open, irrespective of the RP/DO conditions for dynamic and not for static posturographic parameters.

Conclusion: This study failed to show detectable alterations in body posture in TMD patients.