Determinação da relação da postura com distúrbios temporomandibulares

Abstract

Posture is defined as a body position in which there is a musculoskeletal balance and the adoption of certain habits by the population can have repercussions at the postural level. Pain in the neck and cervical region is a recurrent health problem and cervical muscle dysfunction is one of the most frequently found musculoskeletal impairments. Dentistry is a field affected by musculoskeletal pain due to the positions and movements required for work. Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are defined as a set of clinical problems involving the masticatory muscles, the temporomandibular joint, or both. It is thought that the presence of cervical dysfunction and poor posture may constitute etiological factors for the onset of temporomandibular disorders. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate and analyze posture in dental students with and without TMD. As a secondary objective, it aims to evaluate the incidence of TMD symptoms and cervical disability and to establish relationships with sociodemographic data. The Fonseca Anamnestic Index and the Neck Disability Index were used for data collection, and photographs were taken of 1st and 5th year of dental students and then evaluated using postural assessment software - SAPO. It was found that the prevalence of TMD in students was 62.3% and cervical disability was present in 41.0% of the participants. A significant association was observed between cervical disability and the presence of temporomandibular disorders. No statistically significant differences were observed in postural analysis between students with TMD and without TMD. The results of this study emphasize the importance of adopting a correct working posture for dental students in order to prevent the onset of injuries in the cervical region.

Date of Award	13 Jul 2022
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Vanessa Maria Barroso dos Santos Silva (Supervisor) & Patrícia Fonseca (Co-Supervisor)