TMJ Disorders and Physical Therapy
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is a common condition that affects more than 10 million people in the United States. TMD limits the jaw’s normal functions, such as opening the mouth, chewing, talking, and yawning. TMD is a disorder of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which is a hinge joint that connects the jaw to the skull in front of each ear. The TMJ guides jaw movement and allows the jaw to complete tasks like talking and chewing. While physicians and dentists play an important role in assessing and treating TMD, physical therapy can help a TMD patient ease pain, regain normal jaw movement, and lessen daily stress on the jaw.
Causes of TMD
Having proper posture, neck mobility, and muscle balance around the jaw and neck are important for correct function of the joint. TMD can be caused by a variety of issues: poor posture, chronic jaw clenching, malocclusion, fracture to the jaw, surgery to the jaw, arthritis in the TM joint, and lockjaw.
Poor Posture: Poor posture may occur due to an extended period of time sitting at a desk with the head forward as you work or when commuting, working a checkout station, or carrying a child on the same hip. These behaviors can place the head in a forward position that puts a strain on the muscles, ligaments, and disk of the TM joint. The jaw is forced to rest in an opened position, causing the chewing muscles to become overused and lead to TMD.
Chronic Jaw Clenching: Jaw clenching during the day or grinding teeth at night often results from stress and anxiety and places stress on the TM joint.
Malocclusion (Teeth Misalignment): If teeth are positioned unusually, this places greater stress on the TMJ. A physical therapist would refer the patient to a dentist if this is the underlying issue.
Fracture: A fracture to the jaw due to a traumatic accident to the face or head can contribute to TMD. Even when the fracture is healed, stiffness and pain in the TMJ may remain.
Surgery: Undergoing surgery to the face or jaw may result in loss of mobility and function of the TMJ.
Lockjaw: Lockjaw occurs when the jaw muscles spasm and the jaw cannot fully open. The jaw can then lock or get stuck in a certain position, which leads to headaches and pain when chewing or talking.
Symptoms of TMD
Symptoms of TMD include:
Jaw Pain
Jaw Fatigue
Difficulty opening mouth to eat or talk
Ringing in the ears
Dizziness
Popping sound in jaw
Locking Jaw
Physical Therapy TMD Treatment
Physical therapy is one of the most effective conservative treatments for TMD to decrease pain and regain normal jaw function. A patient with TMD receives a thorough physical exam from the physical therapist to assess jaw and neck movement and range of motion and evaluate posture, joint mobility, and soft tissue and muscles that are contributing to TMD.
Physical therapy treatment for TMD includes:
Posture education to address forward head positioning and improve resting position of jaw, head, neck, and shoulder blades when sitting or walking.
Manual therapy, a hands-on technique to gently increase movement and relieve pain in the tissues and TM joint. Manual therapy stretches the jaw to restore normal muscle and joint flexibility.
Pain management using heat and ice modalities
Low-loading exercises that do not exert too much pressure on the TMJ, but allow for strengthening of the jaw muscles and restoration of normal jaw movement
Dry needling uses thin filiform needles to target specific muscles in the jaw that are contracting and contributing to jaw misalignment. Dry needling reduces the muscle spasm and can alleviate pain.
Are you experiencing persistent jaw pain? Are you finding it difficult to chew or yawn due to pain, popping, or locking in your jaw? Don’t wait to set up your initial evaluation with Mangiarelli Rehabilitation and let us help you experience less pain and restored jaw function!
