Temporomandibular Joint Pain: TMJ pain is a frequent, but frequently misunderstood condition that can impact your speech, eating and even sleep. The TMJ is the joint that connects your jawbone to your skull and when it gets askew or stressed, it can cause pain, headaches, popping noises from opening and closing along with problems moving the jaw. Most people attempt a drug-based or dental solution without ever considering that your posture has something to do with it! Bad posture, particularly with the neck and shoulders, would directly cause TMJ malfunction. Understanding this link is the first step toward a more permanent relief found in Physiotherapy for TMJ.
When posture is poor —for example, when slouching at a desk or craning the neck forward to use electronic devices—alignment of the spine and jaw are impacted. This discrepancy adds pressure on the TMJ resulting in stress throughout surrounding muscles and joints. Over time, the tension can lead to inflammation, pain and limited jaw mobility. A physiotherapist helps to identify how posture contributes to TMJ pain and will work with you on a personal treatment plan for better balance. At Abbotsford Physiotherapy the clinicians work to help correct these imbalances, thereby taking stress off the jaw and the muscles of the neck.
TMJ Physiotherapy is much more than the treatment of the jaw – it’s addressing and managing the musculoskeletal system that supports this joint. Rehabilitation includes infiltration of the masseter muscle, control of parafunction and treating stress factors. Physiotherapists use manual treatment together with postural correction and selected exercises to reduce myofascial tension and improve mandibular function in order to recuperate a normal kinesiology. Some muscle relaxation techniques are used to release knots in the neck, shoulders and face muscles, while exercise techniques are utilized to re-strengthen postural muscles that support the TMJ. Your physiotherapist may also teach you how to relax and use breathing techniques to reduce stress, which worsens TMD. After regular therapy, the patient reports more comofrt and better general posture.
Proper alignment is essential to the treatment of TMJ disorders, as misalignment leads to a cascade effect in the body. When your head is forward on your spine, the muscles in your neck and jaw have to keep working to hold it up and so also work harder keeping the mouth closed. That constant stress might make you tighten or grind your teeth without knowing it. Your therapist also can teach you ergonomically correct ways to perform daily activities — such as computer work, driving or relaxing — that won’t strain your jaw. Let the team of experts at Abbotsford Physiotherapy offer personalized advice and hands-on therapy to enable you to develop better movement habits for lasting results.
NYC TMJ Physiotherapy also includes an educational component. When you know the cause of your jaw pain, it gives you a better chance to be an active participant in recovery. Your physical therapist might teach you how certain habits, such as gum chewing or resting your chin in your hand, contribute to TMJ tension. Learning how to identify and change these habits can dramatically accelerate the recovery process. The objective at Abbotsford Physiotherapy is not just to manage the symptoms of neck and shoulder pain, but also provide information on how to keep your posture and movement healthy to avoid future flare-ups.
There is also TMJ management that is a non-surgical, drug-free option for the treatment of TMD. Physiotherapy treats the root of the issue, which is why you don’t have to rely on medication that only temporarily lessens pain. Treatment can take the form of gentle stretching, mobilisation and an extended home exercise program focusing on long term stability and how to help prevent re-occurrence. With ongoing therapy, clients frequently report reduced headaches, greater movement in their jaws and an overall decreasing of discomfort. The full care available at Abbotsford Physiotherapy that addresses all the related portions and make s it so a person's jaw is in balance with the rest of their body.
So, in closing, TMJ pain is likely more than a simple problem in your own back yard…it’s very possibly intertwined with your posture and overall body mechanics. Bad posture can put added stress on the muscles & joints that operate your jaw, creating pain. Good news - Physiotherapy for TMJ provides a solution that eradicates the symptoms but also the cause. Collaborative, qualified professionals at Abbotsford Physiotherapy will help you regain balance, reduce pain and enhance your quality of life through improved posture and targeted therapy.