Body Posture Photographs as a Diagnostic Aid for Musculoskeletal Disorders Related to Temporomandibular Disoerders (TMCD)

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that body posture could be an etiologic factor in patients with temporomandibular disorders. “Faulty” body posture has been considered to be an initiating and perpetuating etiologic factor in some temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Although in patients with temporomandibular disorders a significant craniocervical dysfunction has been established, a causal relationship between posture and TMD has not yet been proved. Two samples of 40 subjects each were selected, age and gender matched. The experimental group consisted of 40 patients, who were not previously treated for temporomandibular dysfunction. TMD of these patients was diagnosed on the basis of a questionnaire and a thorough intra-and extraoral examination. The clinical symptoms of TMD were confirmed with transcranial x-rays and the condylar tracings of the performed axiography. A clinical examination was done to confirm the good health of the control group. In addition, symptoms of cranio...