COMFORT, MOVEMENT RANGES, AND DISTENSIBILITY OF THE CERVICAL SPINE AND TMJ AND ITS RELATION WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF PILLOWS

K.M. Alvis-Gómez^1,2,3, A.C. Muñoz-García^4,3, A.C. Amaya-Cordoba³, J.N. Orjuela-Vergara^4,3, F.Y. Patiño-Oviedo³, A.K. Antolinez-Romero³, R.E. Argothy Buchelly⁵, M.A. Díaz⁵

¹Asociacion Colombiana de Fisioterapia (Colombian Physiotherapy Association), Bogotá, D.C., Colombia, ²Universidad Nacional de Colombia (National University of Colombia), Departamento del Movimiento Corporal Humano (Department of Human Body Movement), Bogotá, D.C., Colombia, ³Mechanics and Neuromechanics Movement Analysis Research Group, Department of Human Body Movement, National University of Colombia (Universidad Nacional de Colombia), Bogotá, D.C., Colombia, ⁴Universidad de la Sabana (La Sabana University), Department of Human Body Movement, Chía, Colombia, ⁵Coldeportes Biomechanics Lab, Bogotá, Colombia

Background: Sleep, like nutrition and physical activity, is a crucial determinant of physiological needs, since it can occupy even up to a third of the hours of daily life, affecting the quality of life of individuals. One of the determinants of sleep quality is the ergonomic factors of the bed, mattress, and pillow. However, the ideal characteristics of the pillow are still under debate.

Purpose: To determine the association degree between anthropometric characteristics (relative weight of head and neck; distance between acromions), perceived comfort, Cervical Spine and TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) ROM (Range of Movement) pre and post-exposure to the use of the pillow, in Colombian adults.

Methods: A correlational study between pillows characteristics, bio-kinematic conditions, and comfort conditions in a group of Colombian adults were analyzed. The sample was of 77 adults (23 men and 54 women) between 20 and 60 years of age, potentially healthy, selected for convenience for the evaluation of each of the eleven (11) pillows. For the assessment of each of the pillows, it was ensured assured to have a minimum of 10 adults in each of the age ranges (20-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50: 59). Eleven (11) pillows of a specific brand were evaluated. Comfort perception was obtained by Analog Visual Comfort Scale, active ROM of the cervical spine and TMJ were evaluated at 5 and 10 minutes of use of the pillows in lateral decubitus, through photogrammetric recording and Analysis through QUALISYS and QTM systems. Tests were performed to calculate the relative deformation presented in the pillows during the 5 and 10 minutes of use. Correlation analysis was performed through the Spearman coefficient, between comfort level and degrees of relative deformation of the pillows, the recovery time of the original shape, pillow design in terms of height, width, and length, as well as with TMJ and Cervical Spine ROM, the distance between acromions, the relative weight of head and neck; each of these variables was also subjected to a descriptive analysis of their behavior. As the final product of the research, two guides or manuals were generated for selection (for users) and for prescription of the pillow (for professionals).

Results: A direct correlation is found between the variable pillow height and level of (Rho = 0.348; P = 0.001); and indirect correlations between recovery time to the original shape (-0.237; P = 0.001), relative head weight (Rho = -0.110; P = 0.001) and comfort level. The correlations found are weak and require future studies to demonstrate their level of interdependence.

Conclusions: Despite not finding statistically significant correlations between the study variables and the perceived comfort with the use of pillows in the present study, the study shows results that show trends of direct relationship (pillow height-comfort level) and indirect (Time Recovery- Comfort Level; Relative head weight- comfort level- distance between acromions- Comfort Level) to be analyzed in light of other studies.

Implications: The study provides elements for the prescription of pillows, as well as for relating ergonomic conditions and comfort, with bio-kinematic conditions of the cervical spine and TMJ.

Funding acknowledgements: Colombian Physiotherapy Association-ASCOFI and Spring

Keywords:
Sleep
Pillow
Biomechanics

Topics:
Occupational health & ergonomics
Musculoskeletal
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) & risk factors

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE COLOMBIA

Committee: Ethics Committee Faculty of Medicine- National University of Colombia

Ethics number: CE-0204-22