Immediate effect of nonspecific mandibular mobilization on postural control in subjects with temporomandibular disorder: a single-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial

Background: Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is considered multifactorial and is defined as a group of pain conditions characterized by functional stomatognathic system alterations, which may be affected by or related disrupted postural control. Objective: Assess the immediate effect of nonspecific mandibular mobilization (NMM) on the postural control of subjects diagnosed or not with TMD. Method: A simple-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial was performed involving 50 subjects of both genders assigned to two groups: the TMD group and the control group. TMD was diagnosed according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD). A stabilometric assessment was performed by testing subjects in a quiet stance on a dual force platform under two visual conditions (eyes open and eyes closed). The Center of Pressure (CoP)-related variables analyzed were displacement, amplitude, speed of anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) displacements and CoP sway area. The mean values of each variable were compared, considering the accepted significance value of p<0.05. Results: A significant difference between the pre-and post-NMM means could be observed in subjects diagnosed with TMD under the closed-eyes visual condition. There was a statistically significant difference in the CoP sway area (p<0.03) in the ML displacement COPML (p<0.006) and ML amplitude COPML (p<0.01) and in the variable speed in the AP COPAP (p<0.03) and ML COPML (p<0.03) directions, simultaneously. Conclusion: These results indicate that nonspecific temporomandibular joint mobilization contributes to the immediate improvement of postural control in patients with TMD.