Association of neck pain with symptoms of temporomandibular dysfunction inthe general adult population

The association of neck pain with symptoms of temporomandibular dysfunction in the general adult population was evaluated in a sample of 483 subjects selected from the population living in the municipality of Segrate, norther n Italy. Subjects were interviewed by a standard questionnaire about oral c onditions, temporomandibular symptomatology and neck pain, Symptoms related to the Helkimo Anamnestic Index were the indicators of temporomandibular d ysfunction, and the evaluation also included history of trauma of the masti catory system. Troublesome neck pain was experienced within the last year i n 38.9 % of the total series, and the prevalence of complaints was higher i n women than in men (41.7 vs 34.4%), Prevalence increased with age (p < 0.0 05) and was significantly higher in subjects with than without temporomandi bular symptomatology (47.4 vs 28.6%, p < 0.0001), At univariate analysis, f acial and jaw Pain (p < 0.001) and feeling of stiffness or fatigue of the j aws (p < 0.01) were significantly related to neck pain. Age- and sex-adjust ed multiple logistic analysis showed that neck pain is associated with the temporomandibular symptomatology as a whole (p < 0.001), and in particular with facial and jaw pain (p < 0.01), These findings confirm that there is a significant association between neck pain and the temporomandibular sympto matology, Moreover, they suggest that the most relevant relationship is wit h facial and jaw pain, according to recent neurophysiologic studies on pain mechanism. Further clinical and longitudinal studies are desirable in orde r to give a better clarification of mutual specific roles of craniocervical and temporomandibular disorders in the aetiology of these pathologies.