The effect of stabilization appliances on the body posture

Objectives: Several studies on the association between alterations in body posture and Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) showed different results. The aim of this pilot study was to test the effect of stabilization appliances in centric relation on the body posture during walking movement in TMD patients and controls.

Methods: The body posture of 20 TMD cases and 19 controls was evaluated with the sonoSens® Monitor (friendly sensors, Jena, Germany) before (E1), immediately after (E2) and one week (E3) after insertion of a stabilization appliance in centric relation. SonoSens® Monitor is a diagnostical system for a dynamic monitoring of the body posture. The technology consists of an ultrasound-distance measuring process where four pairs of small sensors are placed on specific sites of the neck and the back. In each session the sensors continuously recorded changes in the distance between themselves during straight walking for 7 minutes. The extent of flexion and torsion of the body during walking was recorded for the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. At each appointment a clinical functional examination was performed according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD. All measured parameters were non-parametrically tested for group differences.

Results: There were no significant differences between the groups at E1, E2 and E3 for the regularity indices as well as for the sagittal and frontal movement extent and extent of torsion. Changes of these parameters were also not statistical different within the groups between E1, E2 and E3. Impairment and pain improved significantly for the test group between E1 and E3 (P<0.03) whereas no changes were recorded for the control group.

Conclusions: The results of this pilot study indicate that appliance therapy has no significant influence on the body posture of TMD cases and controls during walking movement. However, further studies are necessary to verify these results.