Relationship between Lower Cervical and Upper Thoracic Spine in Temporomandibular Disorders

Abstract

Background: Temporomandibular patients frequently feel discomfort in other areas as well. It is believed that temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) is linked to whole body imbalance including lower cervical and upper thoracic spine. Objective: To determine the relationship between lower cervical and upper thoracic spine with TMJ disorders. Methodology: This study was conducted on bilateral temporomandibular disorder patients of Multan. It included both males and females of age group between 20 to 50 years. People with history of trauma and fracture of face, patients with any spine abnormality and systemic disease such as rheumatoid were excluded. Helkimo index, neck disability scale and Oswestry scale was used to assess TMJ, cervical spine and thoracic spine. Results: In the current study total of 82 participants participated with a mean age of 31.19. In this study, 31(37.8%) males and 51(62.2%) females participated for the study. Result showed that there are 32 (39%) with mild dysfunction, 28 (34.1%) with moderate dysfunction and 22 (26.8%) with severe dysfunction of TMJ. Neck disability scale results showed that around 21 (25.6%) had no disability, 25 (30.5%) had mild disability, 19 (23.2%) had moderate, 16 (19.5%) had severe and only 1 (1.2%) had total disability of neck and Oswestry disability index results showed that the 53 (64.6%) had mild thoracic spine disability, 16 (19.5%) had moderate thoracic spine disability and 13 (15.9%) had severe thoracic spine disability of thoracic spine. Association was found between TMJ dysfunctions with both cervical spine and thoracic spine (P<0.05). Conclusion: The result of this study concluded that there is an association between TMJ disorder with lower cervical and upper thoracic spine.