Jaw Dysfunction Is Associated with Neck Disability and Muscle Tenderness in Subjects with and without Chronic Temporomandibular Disorders

Authors

A. Silveira, University of Alberta Hospital
Inae Caroline Gadotti, Department of Physical Therapy, Florida International UniversityFollow
S. Armijo-Olivo, University of Alberta
D. A. Biasotto-Gonzalez, Universidade Nove de Julho
D. Magee, University of Alberta

Date of this Version

10-27-2014

Document Type

Article

Rights

by

Abstract

Purpose. Tender points in the neck are common in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). However, the correlation among neck disability, jaw dysfunction, and muscle tenderness in subjects with TMD still needs further investigation. This study investigated the correlation among neck disability, jaw dysfunction, and muscle tenderness in subjects with and without chronic TMD. Participants. Forty females between 19 and 49 years old were included in this study.There were 20 healthy controls and 20 subjects who had chronic TMD and neck disability. Methods. Subjects completed the neck disability index and the limitations of daily functions in TMD questionnaires. Tenderness of the masticatory and cervical muscles was measured using an algometer. Results. The correlation between jaw disability and neck disability was significantly high (� = 0.915, � < 0.05). The correlation between level of muscle tenderness in the masticatory and cervical muscles with jaw dysfunction and neck disability showed fair to moderate correlations (� = 0.32–0.65). Conclusion. High levels of muscle tenderness in upper trapezius and temporalis muscles correlated with high levels of jaw and neck dysfunction. Moreover, high levels of neck disability correlated with high levels of jaw disability.These findings emphasize the importance of considering the neck and its structures when evaluating and treating patients with TMD.

Comments

Originally published in BioMed Research International.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Silveira, A.; Gadotti, Inae Caroline; Armijo-Olivo, S.; Biasotto-Gonzalez, D. A.; and Magee, D., "Jaw Dysfunction Is Associated with Neck Disability and Muscle Tenderness in Subjects with and without Chronic Temporomandibular Disorders" (2014). Department of Physical Therapy Faculty Publications. 4.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/pt_fac/4