title: Relationship between neck disability and mandibular range of motion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is a close interaction between the mandibular and cervical systems due to the existing neurological and biomechanical communications. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between neck disability and mandibular range of motion (ROM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two women aged between 18 and 40 years were recruited and allocated to four groups using two outcome measures: the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD): Group I (n=13), healthy volunteers; Group II (n=13), volunteers with TMD and neck disability; Group III (n=13), volunteers with TMD and without neck disability; and Group IV (n=13), volunteers with neck disability and without TMD. Mandibular ROM was evaluated as part of the RDC/TMD clinical examination. Statistical analysis involved one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's test for comparisons between groups. Spearman's correlation coefficients were calculated to determined correlations among the variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences were found in the mandibular ROM of functional opening in the comparisons between Groups I and III (p=0.009) and between Groups III and IV (p=0.024). No significant association was found between mandibular ROM and the NDI score (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the methodology employed, there is no association between mandibular ROM and neck disability in university women. In this sense, clinical interventions focusing on the flexibility of the temporomandibular joint does not have repercussions on the neck disability and vice versa.
authors.affiliation: Methodist University of Piracicaba, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Amanda Carine
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Packer
authors.affiliation: Methodist University of Piracicaba, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Almir Vieira
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Dibai-Filho
authors.affiliation: Methodist University of Piracicaba, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Cláudia
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: de Souza Costa
authors.affiliation: State University of Campinas, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kelly Cristina
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: dos Santos Berni
authors.affiliation: Methodist University of Piracicaba, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil State University of Campinas, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Delaine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rodrigues-Bigaton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Neck pain; articular; range of motion; temporomandibular disorders