Abstract

The American Academy of Orofacial Pain defines Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) as a set of disorders involving the masticatory muscles, the TMJ, and associated structures.In hemiparetic individuals after stroke, due to motor condition, speech, chewing and swallowing functions may be impaired and influence the onset of temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Therefore, the objective of this research was to analyze the relationship of TMD with changes caused by stroke in hemiparetic subjectsand observe pain threshold pressure (PPT), cervical range of motion and the quality of life (QoL). The RDC/TMD was used for TMD diagnosis, PPT Test, fleximeter for cervical range of motion evaluation, to assess QoL, the instrument used was the WHOQOL-bref, with the statistical analysis performed by the SPSS. The sample was divided into groups with TMD (GD) and without TMD (GS). According to the RDC/TMD of the 20 individuals evaluated, 80% (n=16) presented clinical signs and symptoms of TMD, and 43.7% were homolateral to the side affected by stroke. There was a decrease in the range of motion of the cervical spine in GD, a decrease in LDP in sternocleidomastoid (ECOM) and physical domain of QOL only in GD. A high frequency of TMD was observed in the sample, with predominance of diagnosis for the homolateral hemiparesis side.

Keywords: Temporomandibular Joint; Stroke; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders