OCCLUSION AND CENTER OF FOOT PRESSURE VARIATION - IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP

The influences of head and body posture on the mandibular rest positio n, the range of functional movements, and the initial tooth contact ha ve been documented. In this investigation, the modifications of the po sition of the center of foot pressure during natural standing were stu died in 30 women. The subjects were divided into three groups: healthy women (control), women with an asymmetric (unilateral) Angle class II malocclusion, and women with temporomandibular disorders. Data were a cquired in 30-second trials by use of a force plate that allowed a sep arate assessment of each foot while the subjects maintained different dental positions: rest position; centric occlusion; maximum clench; oc clusion on two cotton rolls placed on the mandibular teeth distal to t he canines; and maximum clench on two cotton rolls. Bivariate analysis was used to compute the mean values and relevant variability for the center of foot pressure location during each trial. The results demons trated that the modifications of foot center of pressure were not infl uenced by temporomandibular disorders and asymmetric malocclusion or b y different dental positions.