Systematic Review of the Correlation Between Temporomandibular Disorder and Body Posture

Abstract

Background The aim of this study was to identify well-supported evidence to aid medical treatment of temporomandibular disorder or dysfunction (TMD) in Korea by analyzing the correlation between TMD and body posture in recent international research. Methods We looked for recent clinical studies on TMD and body posture in Korean and English databases. Bias risk was estimated using the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Non-Randomized Studies and the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for assessing randomized controlled studies. Results Nine clinical studies, published between 2005 and 2017, were analyzed. In each, TMD was assessed using the American Academy of Orofacial Pain diagnostic criteria and the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorder. Six studies evaluated body posture using photographs, four studies used stabilometry, and one used both photographs and stabilometry. Conclusions Six of the nine studies found a correlation between TMD and body posture. Well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to provide more data to assess the validity of this correlation.

Keywords

• body posture
• temporomandibular disorder
• temporomandibular dysfunction