Cervical flexion-rotation test and physiological range of motion - A comparative study of patients with myogenic temporomandibular disorder versus healthy subjects

Abstract

Background: Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) refer to several common clinical disorders which involve the masticatory muscles, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the adjacent structures. Although neck signs and symptoms are found with higher prevalence in TMD patients compared to the overall population, whether limitation of cervical mobility is an additional positive finding in this cohort is still an open question.

Objective: To compare the physiological cervical range of motion (CROM) and the extent of rotation during cervical flexion (flexion-rotation test, FRT) in people with TMD (muscular origin) and healthy control subjects.

Method: The range of motion of the neck and FRT was measured in 20 women with myogenic TMD and 20 age matched healthy controls.

Results: Women with myogenic TMD had significantly lower FRT scores compared to their matched healthy women. No difference was found between groups in CROM in any of the planes of movement. The FRT was positive (less than 32°) in 90% of the TMD participants versus 5% in the healthy control but the findings were not correlated with TMD severity.

Conclusion: The results point out a potential involvement of the upper cervical joints (c1-c2) in women with myogenic TMD.

Keywords: Cervical spine; Cervicogenic headache; Flexion-rotation test; Temporomandibular disorders.