INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STOMATOGNATHIC SYSTEM SPINE POSTURE AND PELVIC SYMMETRY IN ADOLESCENCE INDIVIDUALS

E.B. Demirkapi¹, A. Tuncer², P. Kuyulu³, N. Ergun³

¹Osteolife Healthy Living and Exercise Center, Gaziantep, Turkey, ²Hasan Kalyoncu University, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Gaziantep, Turkey, ³SANKO University, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Gaziantep, Turkey

Background: The stomatognathic system (SS) is a structure that performs the functional tasks of mastication, swallowing, and speech and consists of bones, muscles, soft tissues (glands, vessels, and nerves), temporomandibular joint (TMJ), cheek, lips, and teeth in the head and neck region. The functional complex known as the cranio-cervico-mandibular system, the TMJ, provides muscle and ligament connections to the cervical region. Changes in mandibular position can affect posture, changes in posture can affect mandibular position. At SS, proprioceptive inputs are processed along with information from the vestibular and oculomotor systems. This information is important for the control between SS and body posture.

Purpose: This study was planned to examine the relationship between the stomatognathic system, spine posture and pelvis symmetry.

Methods: 91 healthy adolescence with a mean age of 14,01±1,4 years were included in the study. For stomatognathic system, temporomandibular range of motion with millimeter ruler, cervical joint range of motion and craniovertebral angle measurement with goniometer, tragus-wall distance measurement with tape measure, kyphosis and lordosis angle measurement with Baseline Bubble Inclinometer®, trunk rotation angle scoliometer for scoliosis, lower extremity length measurements for pelvis symmetry were made using a tape measure.

Results: A moderately strong correlation was found between the craniovertebral angle and maximum mouth opening and protrusion values of the adolescence individuals included in the study (r=0,445-0,452; p<0,01). A moderately strong correlation was found between tragus wall distance and maximum mouth opening and laterotrusion (r= -0,421; -0,489; p<0,001) values. Strong between kyphosis angle value and maximum mouth opening (r= -0,679; p<0,001); moderately strong with the amount of protrusion (r= - 0,558; p<0,001); a weak correlation was found with laterottrusion (r= -0,330; -0,340; p=0,001) and scoliosis rotation angle and maximum mouth opening (r= -0,276; p=0,008), protrusion (r= - 0,268; p=0,010) and laterotrusion (r= -0,209; -0,214; p=0,047) and lordosis angle and maximum mouth opening (r= -0,389; p<0,001) and laterotrusion (r= -0,311; p=0,003) values. Between leg length difference and maximum mouth opening (r= -0,232, p=0,026), protrusion (r= -0,227, p=0,030) both sides laterotrusion (r= -0,216; -0,214, p<0,05) values weak relationship was found. Laterotrusion (ρ= -0,508; -0,517, p<0,05) values with the direction of scoliosis curvature and ipsilateral tragus wall (ρ= 0,482; 0,490, p<0,05) and a moderate correlation between opposite side lateral flexion and rotation values was found (ρ= - 0,487; -0,427, p<0,05). A weak correlation was found between the direction of curvature and the distance between the spina iliaca anterior superior-medial malleolus (ρ= - 0,355; -0,349, p<0,05) on the ipsilateral side.

Conclusions: It was concluded that there is a significant relationship between the stomatognathic system and spine posture and pelvis symmetry in adolescences ındividual. Future studies could include the lower extremity in conjunction with the stomotognathic system in the assessments. Further studies may be performed with a multidisciplinary team of orthopaedic surgeons, dentists, and physical therapists using radiologic imaging techniques.

Implications: The frequency of postural scans in schools should be increased, and TMJ should also be examined. Postural abnormalities in adolescents can be detected by school-based examinations.Exercises to straighten the spine can prevent TMJ disorders from occurring.

Funding acknowledgements: The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this study.

Keywords:
Stomatognathic System
Pelvis
Posture

Topics:
Musculoskeletal: spine
Musculoskeletal
Orthopaedics

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: SANKO University

Committee: Non-Interventional Research Ethics Comittee

Ethics number: 2020/09