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Head, neck and trunk movements accompanying jaw tapping
Y Yamabe1, R Yamashita, H Fujii
1Department of Removable Prosthodontics, Nagasaki University School of Dentistry, Nagasaki, Japan.
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation
|December 3, 1999
Summary
Jaw movement triggers head and body motion. The forehead and lumbar spine move backward during jaw opening, while the neck and thoracic spine move forward, aiding smooth jaw function.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Kinesiology
- Human Movement Science
Background:
- Limited research exists on head and body motion during jaw movement.
- Previous studies focused on the relationship between jaw movement and posture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate head and body motion during jaw movement.
- To analyze the kinematics of the head and spine during repetitive jaw tapping.
Main Methods:
- Ten healthy participants performed repetitive jaw tapping.
- Piezoelectric accelerometers measured antero-posterior acceleration on the forehead, mentum, cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae.
Main Results:
- Head and body motion consistently accompanied jaw movement.
- During jaw opening, the forehead and lumbar spine moved posteriorly, while the cervical and thoracic spine moved anteriorly.
- These motion directions reversed during jaw closing.
Conclusions:
- Jaw open-close movements are associated with head extension-flexion and neck/trunk motion.
- These associated movements likely facilitate smooth mandibular function.