EFFECTS OF THERAPIES FOR TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DYSFUNCTION ON CRANIOCERVICAL POSTURE
temporomandibular dysfunction, craniomandibular disorder, temporomandibular disorder syndrome, posture.
The aim of this study was to evaluate if the occlusal plaque, physiotherapy and counseling therapies used for the treatment of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) alter craniocervical posture. This is a blinded randomized controlled trial, which included subjects previously diagnosed with TMD through the RDC / TMD (Research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders). The patients were randomly selected from four treatment groups: oclusal plate (OP, n = 19), physiotherapy (F, n = 23), counseling (AC, n = 17) and plaque with counseling, totaling 59 individuals. For the postural analysis, a teleradiography was performed in order to observe the occipito-atlas distance (DOA, normal between 4 and 9mm), the craniocervical relationship (ACR, normal between 96º and 106º) and the positioning of the hyoid bone TH, 5mm normal with vertex up). Traces were performed on the images using CorelDraw X6 Software (2012 Corel Corporation, Canada). The obtained data were submitted to the McNemar and Chi-square tests (α = 5%). The results showed that there was no statistically significant difference for the analyzed variables regarding the different therapies over time, all presenting p values greater than 0.05. Except for the plaque group in the TH variable (p = 0.013) and the AC group in the ACr variable (p = 0.039). It is concluded that the therapies applied do not influence craniocervical posture in general.