Posturostabilometric evaluation of plantar variations in patients with temporo-mandibular dysfunction: A case-control study

The aim of this experimental study was to find out if temporo-mandibular dysfunctions (TMD) can influence two of the parameters defining body posture, intersolar distance and plantar lay. Test group (TG) was made of 52 subjects (14 males and 38 females aging from 12 to 64 years, average 34.25 +/- 12.96.) all affected by temporomandibular dysfunctions. Control Group (CG) was made of 52 subjects (21 males and 31 females aging from 16 to 56 years average 34.19 +/- 13.40) completely negative for temporo-mandibular or occlusal dysfunctions. The posturo-stabilometric measurements were made using a stabilometric platform and the following conditions were investigated: mandibular rest position (rest) and intercuspidal position (icp) with both eyes open/closed. For both conditions the following parameters were recorded: sway area, sway velocity, sway length, sway velocity variation, weight distribution, right foot angle, left foot angle, the sum of feet angles, bar torsion angle and intersolar distance. The results of our study show that there is a detectable difference between Test and Control group in intercuspal position.