-Photogrammetry is a valuable tool for the diagnosis and measurement of postural changes, but the lack of standardization of anatomical references and angular measures impairs the comparison between studies and compromises the reliability of the results. The objective of this study was to evaluate the inter-and intraexaminer reliability of angular measures proposed by the SAPO posture assessment software (v. 0.68). Twenty--four subjects were photographed in the standing position according to the recommendations of the SAPO software. Three examiners (A, B and C) experienced in the use of the software analyzed the images and repeated the analysis after 7 days. Variance, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and t-test adopting a level of significance of 5% were applied. With respect to interexaminer reliability among the 20 angles measured, two were classified as unacceptable (A13: ICC = 0.623; A14: ICC = 0.568), one as acceptable (A19: ICC = 0.743), one as very good (A20: ICC = 0.860), and 16 as excellent (ICC ≥ 0.90). Evaluation of repeatability of the method by the same examiner showed that two angles measured by examiner A differed significantly between the two measurements (A11: p = 0.015; A12: p = 0.026), as did two angles measured by examiner B (A2: p = 0.019; A12: p = 0.015) and one angle measured by examiner C (A16, p = 0.011). In conclusion, comparison between different examiners showed that the angles proposed by the SAPO protocol are reliable for the measurement of body segments.

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General ized joint hypermobility (GJH) has been considered a predisposing factor for the development of temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Aim:To evaluate clinical and psychosocial aspects in individuals diagnosed with TMD with or without GJH. Materials and methods:Clinical and experimental study, which enrolled 34 women, from 18 to 35 years of age with TMD diagnosed by RDC/TMD. The GJH was assessed by the Beighton score and volunteers were broken down into 2 groups: with GJH (n = 22) and without GJH (n = 12). Results:We found a high percentage of GJH (64.71%). All participants had myofascial pain; 79.41% had arthralgia and 41% had disk displacement. There was a correlation between higher GJH scores and higher passive mouth opening amplitude (p=0.0034), with pain (p=0.0029) and without pain (p=0.0081). Greater mandibular range of motion was observed in the group with GJH, except for protrusion. Painful mouth opening was statistically higher in the GJH group (p=0.0279).Conclusions: Individuals with TMD associated or not to GJH do not differ significantly regarding clinical and psychosocial aspects, except in the mandibular opening range of motion, which if kept at physiological levels can lead to a late diagnosis of TMD in these individuals. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2011;77(4):418-25. BJORL ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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PURPOSE: To study the frequency of cervical spine dysfunction (CCD) signs and symptoms in subjects with and without temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and to assess the craniocervical posture influence on TMD and CCD coexistence. METHODS: Participants were 71 women (19 to 35 years), assessed about TMD presence; 34 constituted the TMD group (G1) and 37 comprised the group without TMD (G2). The CCD was evaluated through the Craniocervical Dysfunction Index and the Cervical Mobility Index. Subjects were also questioned about cervical pain. Craniocervical posture was assessed by cephalometric analysis. RESULTS: There was no difference in the craniocervical posture between groups. G2 presented more mild CCD frequency and less moderate and severe CCD frequency (p=0.01). G1 presented higher percentage of pain during movements (p=0.03) and pain during cervical muscles palpation (p=0.01) compared to G2. Most of the TMD patients (88.24%) related cervical pain with significant difference when compared to G2 (p=0.00). CONCLUSION: Craniocervical posture assessment showed no difference between groups, suggesting that postural alterations could be more related to the CCD. Presence of TMD resulted in higher frequency of cervical pain symptom. Thus the coexistence of CCD and TMD signs and symptoms appear to be more related to the common innervations of the trigeminocervical complex and hyperalgesia of the TMD patients than to craniocervical posture deviations.

We concluded that a multidisciplinary diagnosis is important, given that each evaluation domain, including OTRL, dental and speech therapy, presented variables associated with MB diagnosis. Body posture and nasal patency variables were not associated with MB.