Postural and cervical proprioceptive implications in adult humans with ankyloglossia: an observational study

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate how tongue tie could impact on neck performance and posturographic testing as well as on subjective consequences on dizziness and jaw functionality, when comparing adult participants with different degrees of ankyloglossia (ANK) according to Kotlow classification with a group of healthy subjects, serving as control group (CG).

Methods: ANK and CG participants have been studied by means of quantitative tongue evaluations (including Mouth Opening with Tongue Tip to incisive papilla, MOTTIP, and Maximal Intercisal Mouth Opening, MIO), posturography testing, cervical range of motion (CROM), cervical relocation tests (CRT) and subjective testing (Dizziness Handicap Inventory, DHI, and Jaw Functional Limitations Scale 20, JFLS-20).

Results: 96 ANK participants demontrated to have significant (p < 0.01) higher values in length and in area parameters when compared with 98 CG participants. A significant increase in power spectra values was found within the middle-/high-frequency interval ANK when compared to CG. ANK participants demonstrated significant reduced cervical spine mobility and higher values in all CRT positions as well as significant higher values along DHI and JFLS-20 sub-item and total score. Multiple significant (p < 0.05) correlations were found in ANK participants between tongue measures, cervical mobility, postural parameters and subjective testing.

Conclusion: The present study for the first time demonstrated that the tongue tie may actively partecipate in postural derangement possibly mediated by a wide span of anatomical and functional sequelae in the cervical spine, with consequences not only at jaw functional limitations but also at perceived dizziness level.

Keywords: Ankyloglossia; Cervical proprioception; Cervical range of motion; Dizziness; Posturography; Tongue tie.