Effect of Facial Massage on Static Balance in Individuals with Temporomandibular Disorder – a Pilot Study

Abstract

Introduction

The influence of the neuromuscular system on the cervical region and mastication is directly associated with mandibular movements and neck posture. Normal occlusal homeostasis depends on complex sensory feedback mechanisms of the periodontal ligament, temporomandibular joint and other structures of the stomatognathic system. This feedback serves as a regulatory mechanism that helps determine the force and nature of muscle contractions. Alterations in the muscles of mastication, neck muscles, and occlusal characteristics constitute causal factors of imbalances in the postural muscle chains, leading to alterations in the center of pressure (CoP) of the feet. Thus, therapies that seek occlusal reestablishment, such as muscle relaxation techniques, may lead to a restructuring of the global equilibrium of the neuromuscular system and an improvement in body posture.

Purpose

The aim of the present pilot study was to investigate the immediate effect of facial massage on the CoP in the anteroposterior (CoP_AP) and mediolateral (CoP_ML) directions in individuals with temporomandibular disorder (TMD).

Methods

Twenty individuals with a diagnosis of TMD based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) were submitted to a facial massage technique. CoP_AP and CoP_ML were evaluated using a force plate. Evaluations were performed under two visual conditions (eyes open and eyes closed) prior to resting in dorsal decubitus (baseline), after 10 minutes of rest (premassage) and after the administration of the massage technique (postmassage).

Results

No significant differences were found regarding CoP_AP velocity with eyes open or the following aspects under either visual condition (eyes open or closed): CoP_ML velocity, RMS of CoP_AP, RMS of CoP_ML, and sway area. The only significant difference was found for mean CoP_AP velocity with eyes closed.

Conclusions

While the results of the present study demonstrate the reliability of the reproduction of the data, facial massage had no immediate influence on postural control in individuals with TMD.

INTRODUCTION

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is mainly a pathological condition of the muscles of mastication and postural muscles of the head and neck or combined pathological alterations of these muscles and the temporomandibular joint. Abnormalities in trigeminal afference and proprioception stemming from TMD can cause an imbalance of the entire postural muscle chain through a descending action, with a consequent effect on posture.⁽¹⁾ Recent studies seem to demonstrate the role of trigeminal afference and alterations in the stomatognathic system with regard to proprioception, visual stabilization, and postural stability.^(2,3,4)

The literature describes numerous anatomic connections between the trigeminal system and nerve structures involving the maintenance of posture.^(2,5–12) These interrelations demonstrate that information stemming from trigeminal afference may be linked to other types of afference involved in postural control. Perturbations in the stomatognathic system due to alterations in the muscles of mastication, periodontal ligament or temporomandibular joint could, therefore, lead to a perturbation in postural control due to the relationships among different neural nuclei in the brain stem.⁽¹³⁾

Massaging the muscles of mastication has proven to be effective in the treatment of TMD.^(14–18) In general, massage results in a reduction in pain, an increase in joint mobility, the elimination of adherences among muscle fibers, an increase in local circulation, and overall relaxation.⁽¹⁹⁾ Massage therapy leads to an increase in the range of motion of the mandible, a reduction in pain, and a reduction in the electromyographic activity of the muscles.^(18,20) However, little is known regarding the effects of massage on postural control.

While there is no evidence that massage therapy produces a movement toward the myocentric positioning of the jaw, it is believed that different conditions, such as continuous or intermittent low muscle activity, may be involved in this mechanism.^(21,22,23) Thus, it is possible that muscle relaxation may lead to balance between the right and left sides, with the consequent centric position of the mandible.

Studies have shown that the myocentric position of the mandible improves postural balance.^(1,24) Therefore, as TMD can alter the activity of the muscles of mastication, it is suggested that therapies aimed at the relaxation of these muscles, such as massage, could alter afference from receptors of the stomatognathic system, thereby affecting postural control. Based on this hypothesis, the aim of the present pilot study was to determine the immediate effect of facial massage on static balance in individuals with TMD.

METHODS

Study Design

A pilot study was carried out employing a 1 × 3 factorial design (treatment X time). The independent variables were treatment (1 intervention: facial massage) and time (3 conditions: baseline, premassage, and postmassage). The dependent variables resulted from the center of pressure (CoP): displacement amplitude (RMS), average sway velocity, and sway area.

Sample

The volunteers were recruited and screened based on pre-established inclusion criteria: either gender, age between 16 and 36 years, diagnosis of TMD, mandibular deviation and/or deflection, and complete dentition (except third molars). The following were the exclusion criteria: crossbite, mandibular prognathism or retrognathism, use of dentures, current orthodontic or physiotherapeutic treatment, neurological disorder, or use of orthopedic insoles. Twenty-three individuals met the eligibility criteria and agreed to participate in the study. Three did not complete the evaluations and were excluded from the analysis. Thus, 20 individuals with TMD (3 men and 17 women; mean age: 26.95±6.33; mean height: 1.67±0.06; mean weight: 67.75±8.88) completed the study. Following the definition of the sample, the individuals were submitted to stabilometric evaluations and massage therapy. This study was carried out in compliance with the norms that regulate research involving human subjects contained in Resolution 196/97 of the Brazilian National Health Council. All procedures received approval from the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Universidade Nove de Julho (Brazil). The methodology employed in the present study is part of a protocol registered with the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (RBR9x8ssz).

Evaluations

A trained examiner evaluated the individuals with regard to the presence of TMD using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD),⁽²⁵⁾ which is a biaxial diagnostic tool composed of a detailed physical evaluation of the mouth opening pattern, joint noises, and the extension of mandibular movements. The RDC/TMD questionnaire is made up of 31 items addressing general health, oral health, history of facial pain, mouth opening limitation, joint noises, habits, bite, ringing in the ears, general health status, joint problems, headache, current behavior, and socioeconomic profile. The diagnosis is established based on the combined results of the two axes. The RDC-TMD has been widely used in the literature^(26–28) with the aim of enhancing the level of consistency among studies addressing TMD.

Static Balance

CoP measurements were determined using a portable force plate (BIOMEC 4000 v.1.1; EMG System do Brasil, São Jose dos Campos, Brazil) consisting of four load cells and a sampling frequency of 100 Hz, connected to a computer. The participants were evaluated in a relaxed standing position with unrestricted width of the foot base, heels in alignment, arms alongside the body, and gaze fixed on a circular target (5 cm in diameter) at the height of the glabellum positioned at a distance of two meters. Two 60-second readings were performed under two visual conditions: eyes open and eyes closed.

To calculate the oscillation in the CoP, values referring to anteroposterior sway (CoP_AP) and mediolateral sway (CoP_ML) were filtered with a 4th order Butterworth filter with a low-pass frequency of 10 Hz. The following variables were then calculated: displacement amplitude by the root mean square (RMS) of the signal, average sway velocity by the total displacement of the CoP divided by time⁽²⁹⁾ and sway area (area of CoP displacement).⁽³⁰⁾ All processing and extraction of the variables of the signals obtained from the force plate were performed using the MATLAB program, version 7.1 (The MathWorks Inc., Natick, MA).

Intervention

Between the first and second stabilometric readings (baseline and premassage), the participants remained at rest, lying comfortably in the supine position, with knees bent, on a cot for 10 minutes. Following the second reading (premassage), the same position was used for the massage therapy. The massage technique proposed by Biasotto-Gonzalez and Bérzin⁽¹⁸⁾ was employed. The total procedure lasted 20 minutes, and consisted of synchronized kneading and sliding movements with a medium degree of pressure on the anterior temporal, masseter, and suprahyoid muscles, performed by the same trained therapist positioned cranially to the subject. Moisturizing lotion was used during the massage to reduce friction. The protocol was applied bilaterally in a simultaneous fashion in two repeated steps. Step 1 consisted of surface sliding movements in a clockwise circular motion over the anterior temporal muscle. Step 2 consisted of kneading movements in the cranial–caudal direction over the masseter muscle. The return to the initial position involved continuous sliding in the opposite direction passing over the suprahyoid muscles.

Statistical Analysis

The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to determine the intrasession reliability of the values obtained between two collections (test/retest) at the baseline and premassage evaluations. ICC values greater than 0.80 indicated excellent reproducibility, values between 0.80 and 0.60 denoted good reproducibility, and values less than 0.60 denoted poor reproducibility.⁽³¹⁾ Regarding the stabilometric variables, the Shapiro-Wilk test demonstrated that the data exhibited asymmetric distribution. Thus, Friedman’s repeated-measure analysis of variance and Dunn’s post hoc test were used for comparisons of the values obtained at the three evaluation times (baseline, premassage, and postmassage). The level of significance for all statistical tests was set to 5% (p < 0.05). All analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 20.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL).

RESULTS

Intra-session Reliability

Table 1 displays the ICCs for the values corresponding to body sway on two tests per individual. Good to excellent reliability was generally demonstrated for sway area and velocity under both visual conditions (0.71 to 0.97). However, poor reproducibility was found on the baseline evaluation for RMS with eyes open (0.40 to 0.49), with good to excellent reliability regarding the other variables in this same evaluation (0.71 to 0.90).

Table 1.

ICC for Two Trials: Anteroposterior (AP) and Mediolateral (ML) Oscillations with Eyes Open (EO) and Closed (EC)

			Velocity (cm/s)		RMS (cm)
		Area (cm 2 )	CoPAP	CoPML	CoPAP	CoPML
Baseline	EO	0.72	0.85	0.93	0.49	0.40
	EC	0.71	0.96	0.90	0.71	0.73
Premassage	EO	0.95	0.97	0.84	0.90	0.88
	EC	0.77	0.97	0.80	0.86	0.80

Analysis of CoP Variables

In the analysis of body sway prior to rest (baseline), after 10 minutes of rest (premassage) and after massage therapy (postmassage) under two visual conditions (eyes open and eyes closed), the only significant difference was found for average CoP_AP velocity with eyes closed (Table 2). No significant differences were found regarding CoP_AP velocity with eyes open or regarding the following aspects under either visual condition (eyes open or closed): CoP_ML velocity, RMS of CoP_AP, RMS of CoP_ML, and sway area (Table 2).

Table 2.

Mean and Standard Deviation and Friedman’s ANOVA Test (X2) Results of the Comparison Among CoP Data Recorded in Three Massage Moments (Baseline, Pre-and Postmassage) in Two Visual Conditions – Eyes Open (EO) and Eyes Close (EC)

		Baseline	Premassage	Postmassage	χ 2	p value
Area (cm2)	EO	1.58±0.99	1.60 ±1.21	1.75±1.24	0.10	0.95
	EC	1.93±1.24	2.23±1.73	2.32±1.41	0.90	0.63
RMS CoPAP (cm)	EO	0.42±0.17	0.41±0.16	0,38±0,13	0.53	0.76
	EC	0.42±0.12	0.44±0.13	0.51±0.19	5.20	0.07
RMS CoPML (cm)	EO	0.20±0.07	0.19±0.06	0.23±0.08	4.52	0.10
	EC	0.24±0.12	0.25±0.12	0.24±0.09	0.98	0.61
Velocity CoPAP (cm/s)	EO	5.33±1.55	5.13±1.67	5.33±1.83	0.40	0.81
	EC	4.99±1.81b	4.90±1.49	5.27±1.56b	6.25	0.04a
Velocity CoPML (cm/s)	EO	0.79±0.67	0.69±0.49	0.74±0.35	2.67	0.75
	EC	0.84±0.68	0.70±0.46	0.74±0.39	0.40	0.81

^aStatistically significant differences (p < .05; Friedman’s ANOVA test).

^bStatistically significant differences in pairwise comparison (Dunn’s Test).

CoP_AP = center of pressure anteroposterior direction; CoP_ML = center of pressure mediolateral direction.

DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION

The findings of the present study are supported by the adequate reliability in the reproduction of the data. Thus, although a significant difference was found in CoP_AP velocity with eyes closed, the results demonstrate that one session of facial massage therapy does not exert an immediate influence on postural control (Table 2).

Although the massage protocol employed in the present study did not affect static postural control, which is similar to findings reported in previous studies involving the manipulation of different occlusal interferences,^(5,13,32) the results should be considered inconclusive. Significant changes in CoP have been described following different afferent stimuli through changes in occlusal positioning^(1,2,3,24) and the use of mandibular mobilization.⁽³³⁾ The divergent findings may indicate that the effects of massage therapy are limited to local action, with a reduction in tension/pain⁽¹⁵⁾ and electromyographic activity⁽¹⁸⁾ in the muscles of mastication, as well as improvements in the signs and symptoms of TMD.^(15,17,18)

Changes in electromyographic activity in the muscles of mastication and muscles of the neck have been reported following an immediate change in mandibular position.⁽³⁴⁾ Trigeminal inputs from periodontal receptors (due to changes in the location of occlusal contacts), temporomandibular joint receptors (due to rotation and/or translation of the condyles), and muscle receptors (due to changes in mandibular position) may play a role in the modulation of the motor neuron pools of the cervical muscles with the change in the position of the mandible.⁽³⁵⁾ Moreover, studies suggest that afferent activity from the orofacial region should be considered a significant input to head and neck motor control mechanisms.⁽³⁶⁾ This may be due to the relationship between the descending tract of the trigeminal nerve and the upper cervical dorsal roots. ⁽³⁷⁾ Neurons of the three divisions of cranial nerve V and cranial nerves VII, IX, and X share the same pools with neurons from the upper cervical spine.⁽³⁷⁾

The maintenance of balance is a complex process that involves neural, muscular, skeletal, visual, vestibular, and other components. Information from the sensory systems is used by the postural control system for the internal representation of the spatial configuration of the body in a process that requires the activation of superior centers of the nervous system, especially the brain stem and cerebellum.⁽³⁸⁾ Although the mechanisms used for the representation of body status are not yet fully clarified, the postural control system is known to recognize when sensory information is precise and attributes greater importance to such information.⁽³⁹⁾

Despite the fact that massage is widely employed in clinical practice, the number of sessions, duration of the technique, and the use of only one massage therapy technique could be considered limitations of the present study. Thus, further investigation is needed to completely refute the hypothesis that massage therapy applied to facial muscles exerts no influence on postural control in individuals with TMD. However, the findings of this pilot study can be used as the basis of future investigations, including as a source for the calculation of sample size.