title: The functional relationship between the craniomandibular system, cervical spine, and the sacroiliac joint: a preliminary investigation.
abstract: The hypothesis of a functional coupling between the muscles of the craniomandibular system and the muscles of other body areas is still controversial. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine whether there is a relationship between the craniomandibular system, the craniocervical system and the sacropelvic region. To test this hypothesis, the prevalence and localization of dysfunction of the cervical spine and the sacroiliac joint were examined in a prospective, experimental trial. Twenty healthy students underwent an artificial occlusal interference, which caused an occlusal interference. The upper cervical spine (CO-C3) and the sacroiliac joint were examined before, during and after this experimental test. The primary outcome with these experimental conditions was the occurrence of hypomobile functional abnormalities. In the presence of occlusal interference, functional abnormalities were detected in both regions examined and these changes were statistically significant. The clinical implications of these findings may be that a complementary examination of these areas in CMD patients could be useful.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, OE-8300 Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany. m.g.fink@t-online.de
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wähling
authors.forename: Meike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stiesch-Scholz
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tschernitschek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017271:Craniomandibular Disorders / Q000150:complications; D003769:Dental Occlusion, Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000150:complications; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012446:Sacroiliac Joint / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013131:Spine / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology