Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 14, 2026
06:31
Force and Position Control in Humans - The Role of Augmented Feedback
Published on: June 19, 2016
8.2K
Head position affects the direction of occlusal force during tapping movement
K Nakamura1, I Minami1, J Wada1
1Removable Partial Prosthodontics, Division of Oral Health Sciences, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation
|February 16, 2018
Summary
Head position significantly impacts occlusal force direction during tapping. Maintaining a neutral head position ensures stable jaw movements without unwanted anteroposterior and lateral loading.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Dental Occlusion
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Previous research links head position to mandibular movement.
- The effect of head position on occlusal force direction remained uninvestigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how different head positions influence the direction of occlusal forces during a tapping task.
- To understand the biomechanical implications of head posture on jaw function.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-three healthy adults performed tapping movements in five head positions (natural, forward, backward, right roll, left roll).
- A triaxial force sensor measured the direction and magnitude of occlusal forces.
- Statistical analysis (Wilcoxon signed-rank, Bonferroni) compared forces across head positions.
Main Results:
- Backward head pitch shifted anteroposterior forces forward (P < .01).
- Lateral head rolls (right/left) shifted forces contralaterally (P < .05).
- Significant deviations in force direction were observed compared to natural head position.
Conclusions:
- Head position critically affects occlusal force direction during jaw tapping.
- Optimal head posture is crucial for stable, relaxed jaw movements without abnormal loading.
- Findings suggest implications for dental treatments and ergonomic considerations.
Related Concept Videos
03:13Intermolecular Forces
72.4K
Atoms and molecules interact through bonds (or forces): intramolecular and intermolecular. The forces are electrostatic as they arise from interactions (attractive or repulsive) between charged species (permanent, partial, or temporary charges) and exist with varying strengths between ions, polar, nonpolar, and neutral molecules. The different types of intermolecular forces are ion–dipole, dipole–dipole, hydrogen bonds, and dispersion; among these, dipole–dipole, hydrogen...
72.4K
00:51Anatomical Movements
16.4K
Anatomical movements refer to the various actions or motions that can be performed by the body's joints and muscles. These movements are described using specific terms to provide a standardized way of discussing and understanding the range of motion at different joints.
Here are some common anatomical movements:
Flexion and extension motions are in the sagittal (anterior–posterior) plane of motion. These movements take place at the shoulder, hip, elbow, knee, wrist,...
Here are some common anatomical movements:
Flexion and extension motions are in the sagittal (anterior–posterior) plane of motion. These movements take place at the shoulder, hip, elbow, knee, wrist,...
16.4K
01:19Muscles that Move the Head
6.1K
The muscles that move the head are a dynamic and complex group of structures that work together to facilitate a wide range of head movements, including rotation, flexion, extension, and lateral bending.
The bilateral sternocleidomastoid, or SCM, and the suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles are significant head flexors. The SCM muscles originate at the sternum and clavicle and attach to the mastoid process of the temporal bone. The SCM contracts bilaterally to bend the head forward, whereas...
The bilateral sternocleidomastoid, or SCM, and the suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles are significant head flexors. The SCM muscles originate at the sternum and clavicle and attach to the mastoid process of the temporal bone. The SCM contracts bilaterally to bend the head forward, whereas...
6.1K
02:32Position-effect Variegation
7.1K
In 1928, a German botanist Emil Heitz observed the moss nuclei with a DNA binding dye. He observed that while some chromatin regions decondense and spread out in the interphase nucleus, others do not. He termed them euchromatin and heterochromatin, respectively. He proposed that the heterochromatin regions reflect a functionally inactive state of the genome. It was later confirmed that heterochromatin is transcriptionally repressed, and euchromatin is transcriptionally active chromatin.
7.1K
02:36Electromotive Force
30.3K
Electricity is generated by either electrons or ions flowing through a solution or a conducting medium. This flow of electrons or specifically electrical charge is defined as an electric current. When electrons move through a wire, they generate an electric current. It can be recalled that in a redox reaction, electrons are lost and gained. In the spontaneous redox reaction of zinc with copper, when zinc is immersed in a copper ion solution, a transfer of electrons from one substance to...
30.3K
01:43The Movement of Organelles and Vesicles
6.6K
In eukaryotic cells, cytoskeletal filaments such as actin, microtubules, and intermediate filaments form a mesh-like cytoskeletal network. These filaments serve as tracks for transporting cellular cargo. Specialized motor proteins use the chemical energy stored in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for this transport. During interphase, microtubules are polarized, with the plus-end towards the cell periphery and the minus-end towards the cell center. Two microtubule-associated motor proteins,...
6.6K