Biomechanical Relationship Between Trunk Flexion and Mouth Opening: Pilot Study (REFEM)

University Rovira i Virgili

Status: Completed

Conditions: Temporomandibular Joint Disorders; Hamstring Injury; Stretch

Treatments: Other: Control group intervention; Other: Self-stretching of the masticatory musculature

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06188897

23/2016

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of the present study is to analyze if there is a biomechanical relationship between trunk flexion and buccal opening and to observe if there is an improvement of trunk flexion by performing the "sit and reach" test when stretching the masticatory muscles.

Full description

The study design is made up of a double-blind clinical trial with 60 participants randomly divided into two groups of 30 people each (Treatment group and Control group). Basal measurements of the mouth opening were taken with a vernier caliper and the trunk flexion measurements were taken by means of the "sit and reach" test. These measurements were carried out again after the intervention, which consisted of self-stretching of the masticatory muscles for the Treatment group and an occlusion of the mouth for the Control group. In the results there was an increase in the trunk flexion compared to the initial values in both groups (Treatment group 2.8 (1.51), Control group 1.97 (2.31) and this increase was greater in the Treatment group even though the difference with the Control group was not statistically significant. Therefore, the stretching of the masticatory muscles does not cause an immediate increase in the degree of trunk flexion measured by the "sit and reach" test. As a consequence, we cannot confirm the existence of a biomechanical relationship between trunk flexion and mouth opening.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 26 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Being between 18 and 26 years old (both included).
2. Having signed the consent form.
3. Being able to introduce three knuckles of the non-dominant hand between the incisors.

Exclusion criteria

1. Having a musculoskeletal injury in the lower extremity and / or in the jaw.
2. Being in the process of receiving physiotherapy treatment and / or having undergone any odontologic or maxillofacial surgery in the last month.
3. Having suffered dislocations, painful clicks or being diagnosed with some type of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction.
4. Having hypermobility in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) that is, the measurement of the buccal opening being greater than 60 mm.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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60 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Experimental group

Experimental group

Description:

The experimental group did the intervention, which consisted of self-stretching of the masticatory muscles. This stretch consisted of introducing three knuckles of the non-dominant hand between the incisors for two minutes while sitting

Treatment:

Other: Self-stretching of the masticatory musculature

Control group

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

The control group was asked to introduce only two knuckles in the oral cavity and perform a mandibular occlusion, an intervention that serves as a simulated stretch in said group.

Treatment:

Other: Control group intervention