Influence of the mandibular position on the active cervical range of motion of healthy subjects analyzed using an accelerometer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to analyze the influence of the mandibular positions (habitual rest position, habitual maximum intercuspation, habitual maximum intercuspation with clenching, and mandibular position with cotton rolls) on the active cervical range of motion (ROM) (flexion-extension, lateroflexions, rotations) using an accelerometer in a sample of healthy subjects.

METHODS: A total of 21 (14 M, 7 F) healthy volunteers aged from 18 to 27 years (mean age 23.88 ± 2.34 years; mean weight 67.86 ± 11.38 kg; mean height 172.52 ± 9.00 cm) underwent a cervical range of movement examination using a 9-axis accelerometer. A one-way ANOVA analysis was performed in order to statistically evaluate the effective influence of the mandibular position on the recorded parameters.

RESULTS: The analysis showed no statistically significant differences (all p-values > 0.1) with variations smaller than three degrees among the different mandibular positions.

DISCUSSION: The mandibular position seems to have no influence on the active cervical ROM in healthy subjects. Further studies are needed to assess the usefulness of the accelerometer in the cervical analysis of temporomandibular disorder subjects.