Cervical spine signs and symptoms: perpetuating rather than predisposing factors for temporomandibular disorders in women

Débora Bevilaqua-Grossi,Thaís Cristina Chaves,Anamaria Siriani De Oliveira

doi:10.1590/s1678-77572007000400004

Débora Bevilaqua-Grossi, Thaís Cristina Chaves + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1678-77572007000400004

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Abstract

Aim:The purpose of this study was to assess in a sample of female community cases the relationship between the increase of percentage of cervical signs and symptoms and the severity of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and vice-versa.Material and Methods:One hundred women (aged 18-26 years) clinically diagnosed with TMD signs and symptoms and cervical spine disorders were randomly selected from a sample of college students.Results:43% of the volunteers demonstrated the same severity for TMD and cervical spine disorders (CSD). The increase in TMD signs and symptoms was accompanied by increase in CSD severity, except for pain during palpation of posterior temporal muscle, more frequently observed in the severe CSD group. However, increase in pain during cervical extension, sounds during cervical lateral flexion, and tenderness to palpation of upper fibers of trapezius and suboccipital muscles were observed in association with the progression of TMD severity.Conclusion:The increase in cervical symptomatology seems to accompany TMD severity; nonetheless, the inverse was not verified. Such results suggest that cervical spine signs and symptoms could be better recognized as perpetuating rather than predisposing factors for TMD.

Highlights

Cervical spine disorders (CSD) are common conditions affecting the cervical region and related structures, with or without irradiating pain towards the shoulders, arms, interscapular region and head[3,6,22]
An analysis was performed on the distribution of volunteers with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) signs and symptoms into categories of CSD severity (Table II)
The results of this study suggest that cervical signs and symptoms accompanied TMD severity

Summary

Introduction

Cervical spine disorders (CSD) are common conditions affecting the cervical region and related structures, with or without irradiating pain towards the shoulders, arms, interscapular region and head[3,6,22]. Neck pain is often the major symptom in CSD related to post-traumatic or to chronic micro-traumatic lesions of the joints and periarticular structures[3]. TMD are defined as the most common non-dental cause of orofacial pain[17]. TMD is a collective term applied to all problems related to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and associated musculoskeletal structures[1]. Etiological factors are often divided into three categories: predisposing, perpetuating and precipitating[17] In this context, CSD is considered as a predisposing and (or) perpetuating factor for TMD

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