Are neck pain, disability, and deep neck flexor performance the same for the different types of temporomandibular disorders?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate neck pain, disability, and deep neck flexor (DNF) performance of individuals with temporomandibular disorders (TMD).

METHODS

Eighty individuals were divided into the following: arthrogenic TMD (n = 40), myogenic TMD (n = 12), and mixed TMD (n = 28). Neck pain intensity, neck disability, and DNF performance were evaluated.

RESULTS

Individuals with arthrogenic TMD reported lower intensity of neck pain when compared to mixed TMD (p = 0.01). Individuals with arthrogenic TMD had less neck disability than individuals with myogenic TMD (p = 0.037) and mixed TMD (p < 0.001). A moderate positive correlation was found between neck pain and neck disability (p < 0.001). No differences were found for DNF performance.

CONCLUSION

Neck pain and disability differs according to subtype of TMD, but performance of the deep neck flexors does not. Neck pain intensity and neck disability were correlated in patients with TMD.