Spinal and temporo-mandibular disorders in male workers of the State Police.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study are to evaluate the prevalence of disorders of the lumbar region and the temporo-mandibular district co-morbidity in drivers and workers of the State Police employed for different office activities.


METHODS
The study population included 103 drivers as cases and 100 police officers as controls. The study was carried out through questionnaire and clinical evaluation of the spine and temporo-mandibular region.


RESULTS
At clinical examination, the drivers were found to have a higher prevalence (p < 0.05) of both symptoms and clinical signs at the spine and temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ), when compared with the controls. The results also showed a higher prevalence (p < 0.05) of co-morbidity in the two districts among the drivers, when compared with the controls.


CONCLUSIONS
These results confirm that morbidity related to back and TMJ and increase in co-morbidity between the two districts are higher in professional drivers.
University of Rome Sapienza, Department of Anatomy, Histology, Medical-Legal and Orthopedics, Unit of Occupational Medicine, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Angela
A
Sancini
Francesco
F
Tomei
Gianfranco
G
Tomei
Tiziana
T
Caciari
Assunta
A
Capozzella
Manuela
M
Di Famiani
Ilaria
I
Samperi
Barbara
B
Scala
Maria
M
Fiaschetti
Carlotta
C
Cetica
Manuela
M
Ciarrocca
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases; D016495:Police; D015995:Prevalence; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*