Prevalence of temporomandibular disorder and its relation with plantar pressures in university students of health-related courses

Abstract

Background: The temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are changes that occur at the structures that compose the temporomandibular joint. Changes in the temporomandibular complex provoke adaptations throughout the muscular system, which generate postural alterations, modifying the body biomechanics and interfering with their body alignment. Objective: To verify the prevalence of TMD in university students, and to analyze the plantar pressures of subjects with and without TMD. Methods: This research was approved by the Ethics Committee with number: 2.407.595. The 68 students of physiotherapy and dentistry courses were evaluated through the “Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders” and through baropodometry. Plantar pressures of students were compared using the Mann-Whitney test. Results: 71% of the university students presented some type of TMD. Most subjects with TMD presented their pressure center located in the hindfoot contralateral to the disorder. Conclusion: There was no significant difference (p≥0.05) between the plantar pressures of the students with and without TMD.