Head posture: a case study of the effects on the rest position of the mandible*.

Previous research has shown a relationship between head posture and the rest position of the mandible. The purpose in this study was to investigate the changes in the resting vertical dimension of the mandible with correction of a forward head posture in an edentulous patient. Ten treatments of manual physical therapy techniques, such as joint mobilization and muscle stretching to correct the forward head posture, were administered. A plumb line test showed an improvement of the forward head posture. In addition, the resting vertical dimension of the mandible increased an average of 8 millimeters. This result suggests that correct head posture may be necessary to precisely calculate the resting vertical dimension of the mandible.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1985;5(4):179-183.