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Objective assessment of mandibular motor control using a 'reach-and-hold' task
Silvestro Roatta1, M Rolando, V Notaro
1Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Torino, Italy. silvestro.roatta@unito.it
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation
|April 27, 2011
Summary
This study introduces a novel kinesiography technique for objectively assessing mandibular motor control. The method demonstrated reliable and repeatable measurements, offering potential for diagnosing temporomandibular disorders and guiding rehabilitation.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Neuroscience
- Dental Science
Background:
- Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are known to impair mandibular motor function.
- Quantitative assessment of mandibular motor control is limited due to a lack of suitable investigative tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a reliable technique for evaluating mandibular motor performance using kinesiography.
- To establish objective measures for assessing precision and steadiness in mandibular movements.
Main Methods:
- A kinesiography-monitored reach-and-hold task was employed with 19 healthy subjects.
- Subjects moved a cursor on a screen using mandibular movements in the frontal plane to reach sequential targets.
- Performance was assessed over multiple trials and sessions to evaluate repeatability and learning effects.
Main Results:
- The kinesiographic technique provided objective and reliable assessment of voluntary mandibular control.
- Performance showed progressive improvement and stabilization across sessions, with an average positioning error of 0.59 ± 0.38 mm.
- High intraclass correlation coefficients (0.76–0.94) indicated good repeatability of the measurements.
Conclusions:
- The developed kinesiographic technique offers a reliable method for evaluating mandibular motor control.
- This technique has potential applications in characterizing TMD and monitoring motor training in rehabilitation.
