Temporomandibular disorders in instrumentalist musicians

To verify the association between temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and age, time of activity and type of instrument, in instrumentalist musicians.

This was a cross-sectional observational study conducted with 173 musicians, aged 16-40 years, of both sexes. TMD data were collected using the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) assessment instrument. Analyses of associations with the outcomes presence of local myalgia and joint disorders were performed using simple and multiple logistic regression models. Those that remained associated with outcomes with p ≤ 0.10 remained in the final model.

The prevalence of local myalgia was 20.2 % and of joint disorders, 21.4 %. Musicians over 19 years of age had a higher prevalence of local myalgia (34.2 %) and joint disorders (32.9 %), with risks 3.26 times higher for local myalgia and 3.28 times higher for joint disorders (p < 0.10 and p = 0.002). Regarding the type of instrument, wooden musicians had a higher prevalence of local myalgia (28.8 %) than string musicians (14.0 %, p < 0.10). Regarding the time of practice, musicians over three years of age had a higher prevalence of local myalgia (34.4 %) and joint disorders (32.8 %), with a 2.32 times higher risk of local myalgia (p < 0.10). Sex and type of instrument did not show a significant association with joint disorders.

The age of the musicians showed an association with TMD, and participants over 19 years of age were more susceptible to the presence of TMD, however local myalgias did not show significant association.