Jaw Kinematics and Muscle Activation in Patients With Non-specific Chronic Neck Pain

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University44 enrolled

Overview

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a collective term for pain and dysfunction of the masticatory muscles and temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Typical signs and symptoms of TMD includes regional pain, noises from the TMJs and limitations in jaw movements. Altered jaw kinematics and muscle activity have also been reported. TMD may be related to neck problems. Over 50% of patients with TMD suffer from nonspecific neck pain. Patients with TMD often have symptoms over neck, including upper cervical spine movement impairment and reduced cervical muscles endurance. Conversely, TMD may also develop in patients with neck pain. Twenty to thirty-three percent of patients with neck pain also have TMD. Subjects with neck pain present with a twofold higher prevalence of TMD than those without neck pain. In patients with neck pain, the development or perpetuation of TMD may be due to the anatomical connection between TMJ and neck: neck posture affects the mandible position and sensory inputs from the cervical-mandibular region converge at the trigemino-cervical nucleus. Early identification of TMD is essential but to our knowledge, no study has investigated whether patients with neck pain demonstrate altered jaw movement and muscle activity, which is associated with TMD. The purposes of this proposal are to compare the jaw kinematics, muscle activity and muscle sensitivity in healthy individuals and patients with non-specific chronic neck pain (NCNP). This study also aimed to investigate the relationship between forward-head posture and the jaw kinematics, muscle activity as well as muscle sensitivity. With a cross-sectional exploratory study design, 30 healthy control subjects and 30 subjects with NCNP will be recruited. Clinical assessments will include cervical range of motion (CROM), pressure pain threshold (PPT) over the cervical-mandibular region and the cranial-cervical angle (CCA). Jaw kinematics will be measured by Ultrasonic Jaw Motion Analyzer (Zebris GmbH) during functional jaw movements. Muscle activities are record from bilateral anterior temporalis, masseter, sternocleidomastoid muscle and upper trapezius by surface electromyography during resting and clenching.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Temporomandibular Disorder

Interventions

Cervical range of motion (CROM)OTHER

Subjects will perform full-range cervical flexion, extension, side-bending and rotation actively in sitting position. In supine position, cervical flexion-rotation will be performed passively by the assessor.

Pressure pain threshold (PPT)OTHER

A digital algometer with rubber head will be used to apply pressure on the muscles of subjects. When the subjects start to feel pain, the algometer will be removed immediately.

Cranial-cervical angle (CCA)OTHER

Subjects will stand in a relaxed position with colour markers on the earlobe and C7 spinous process. A photo of the head posture will be taken to calculate the included angle between the markers and the horizontal line.

Jaw kinematicsOTHER

Jaw kinematics is measured by Ultrasonic Jaw Motion Analyzer (Zebris). The subjects will perform jaw opening, closing, lateral left, lateral right and protrusion for three times.

Muscle activationOTHER

Surface electromyography is used to assess the activities of bilateral masseter, anterior temporalis, sternocleidomastoid muscle and upper trapezius. Subjects will perform jaw resting and clenching.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 20 YearsMax age: 60 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria (nonspecific chronic neck pain group): * Aged between 20 to 65 years old * Mechanical pain that provoked by sustained neck postures or specific neck movements without any identifiable diseases or structure anomalies * Chronic or recurrent neck pain of at least 3 months duration * Minimum of 3 points on the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) over cervical region * Without any pain, clicking or range of motion limitation over TMJ Inclusion Criteria (healthy control group): * Age (± 5 years) and gender match to NCNP group * No pain or clinical pathology involving the masticatory system or cervical spine for at least one year prior to the start of the study Exclusion Criteria (both groups): * Serious injury, tumor, infection * Recent cervical-cranial surgery * Neurologic involvement * Inflammatory rheumatic diseases * Pregnancy * Nonmechanical cause of neck pain (e.g. herniated disk, spinal fractures) * Had been diagnosed with spinal conditions (e.g. spondylolisthesis) * Shoulder pain within 1 years * Loss of posterior tooth * Dental pain or periodontal problems * Orthodontic, orofacial myofunctional or TMD treatment within 3 months * Use of analgesic or anti-inﬂammatory drugs within 3 days

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Jaw maximum range of motion

Including maximum mouth opening, lateral right, lateral left, and protrusion, which will be described with millimeter (mm)