Dynamic Postural Balance in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)

Abstract

Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) is a set of painful conditions that involve the masticatory muscles, Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ), and/or associated orofacial structures. Some studies have established that patients with TMD present postural alterations. Objective: To assess Dynamic Postural Balance (DPB) in patients with Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) compared to a control group at the Stomatology Clinic of the Benem#xE9;rita Universidad Aut#xF3;noma de Puebla (BUAP). Materials and methods: Forty patients with TMD were tested, diagnosed by a standardized researcher with DC/TMD; 75% female average aged 27.7#xB1;9.5 and 40 controls without TMD, paired by age and sex without significant differences in body mass index (BMI) between groups (pgt;.05). The 80 patients were tested with the Biodex#xAE; Stability System of the Physiotherapy School of the Benem#xE9;rita Universidad Aut#xF3;noma de Puebla (BUAP) by a trained researcher. Comparison of the DPB between groups results was performed by the Student#x2019;s T-test, significance lt;.05. Results: The Dynamic Postural Balance of patients with TMD resulted similar as the control ones. Descriptively, the Overall Index was slower in patients with TMD (1.66#xB1;.94 vs. 1.83#xB1;1.27), as well as the Anterior-Posterior Index (1.20#xB1;.73 vs. 1.26#xB1;.83), the Medial-Lateral Index (.92#xB1;.45 vs. 1.05#xB1;.84), and the permanence time in the optimum balance zone (95.62 vs. 93.65), without statistically significant differences in the three indices (pgt;0.05).Conclusion: The Dynamic Postural Balance of patients with TMD is equal as the control ones