A biomechanical model of the craniomandibular complex and cervical spine based on the inverted pendulum

The head and neck constitute an inverted pendulum that is stabilized during consciousness by neuromuscular restoring forces. An analysis of the dynami cs of this inverted pendulum suggests that the mechanics of the mandible an d temporomandibular joint might couple into those of the pendulum's stabili zation process. In this article, physical principles of the inverted pendul um model as these apply to the head and neck are explored, and the authors describe implications of mandibular mechanics for the forces acting on the head and neck at equilibrium. This novel application of the inverted pendul um model predicts that alteration or pathology of temporomandibular mechani cs would bad to perturbations of the normal forces acting in the head and n eck. Under certain circumstances, these perturbations could be expected to contribute to symptoms and result in additional or accelerated degenerative effects.