The impact of a total knee arthroplasty on jaw movements, upper body posture, plantar pressure distribution, and postural control

ABSTRACT

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) on linked cranial and caudal structures.

Methods: Thirty-five (14f/21m) subjects participated in this study: 15 subjects (9f, 6m) pre- and post- TKA and a control group of 20 subjects (5f, 15m). The measurements included: jaw condyle position and movement, back scan, plantar pressure distribution, and body sway.

Results: There were no significant differences in electronic position analysis of the jaw; however, the protrusion of the TKA group improved (p = 0.001). The test group had a more anteriorly inclined thoracic spine and a less pronounced lumbar lordosis. Before and after surgery, the body sway in the test group was larger.

Conclusion: The TKA affected most prominently the static mechanisms of the postural control and the spine position. The trajectories of the mandible during protrusion also changed slightly.

KEYWORDS:

• Postural control
• total knee arthroplasty
• jaw position
• plantar pressure distribution

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Prof. Kerschbaumer of the orthodontic department of the “Rotes Kreuz Krankenhaus” in Frankfurt am Main (Germany) for providing the opportunity to measure his patients before and after performing TKA surgery.

Conflict of interest

There is no conflict of interest.