5 goals TMJ treatment near you can help you meet

You move your jaw dozens of times every day for everyday tasks like eating and talking. That’s why you shouldn’t attempt to shrug off a twinge of pain when you’re trying to enjoy a meal or laugh at a joke. The longer you go without treating it, the larger an impact it will have on your quality of life.

TMJ dysfunction is a common issue that millions of people experience, but that doesn’t mean you should just grin and bear the pain. There are plenty of ways that TMJ treatment near you can improve your symptoms and help you reach goals that you may be struggling to meet due to the pain.

We’ll talk about what TMJ dysfunction  is, what you can gain from seeking TMJ treatment near you and treatment options that may be recommended.

The basics about TMJ dysfunction

There’s a joint that connects your skull to your jawbone on either side of your head, called the temporomandibular joints, and they work as a sliding hinge to help your jaw properly function. When this joint or its surrounding muscles aren’t working properly, it’s known as TMJ dysfunction or TMJ disorders, though many people refer to it simply as TMJ. 

TMJ dysfunction is a common issue that affects up to 12% of the general population. In fact, it’s the second most common musculoskeletal issue, right behind chronic lower back pain.

TMJ dysfunction symptoms include: 

• Jaw pain or soreness.
• Limited jaw movement.
• Headaches.
• Popping or clicking sounds.

There are a variety of potential causes of TMJ dysfunction, including poor posture, teeth grinding and jaw injuries.

5 goals you can achieve by seeking TMJ treatment near you

For some people, TMJ dysfunction symptoms are temporary or flare up from time to time. For others, TMJ dysfunction is a consistent, long-term issue that can make it difficult to carry out simple activities that require your mouth to be wide open, such as biting food, yawning or laughing at a joke. But no matter how frequent or severe your symptoms are, you can benefit from exploring TMJ treatment near you.

One of the best courses of action for TMJ treatment is physical therapy. It can help you accomplish goals such as:

1. Restoring your jaw’s normal range of motion.
2. Improving your jaw alignment.
3. Allowing you to chew crunchy, chewy or tough foods without pain.
4. Strengthening your jaw muscles.
5. Improving your posture, which can negatively impact your jaw muscles.

Physical therapy techniques you may try during TMJ treatment 

When you seek physical therapy for TMJ treatment, there are a variety of techniques and modalities that your therapist may recommend. They will design a personalized treatment plan based on the severity of your symptoms to make sure the chosen treatments are as effective as possible.

Physical therapy techniques for TMJ treatment should work to reduce your pain as well as increase the overall quality and function of the area to decrease the risk of future flare-ups.

Potential TMJ treatment options include:

• Soft tissue mobilization — A common manual therapy technique for TMJ is soft tissue mobilization. This involves the physical therapist using their hands to gently relax the tight muscles surrounding the TMJ. With massage-like movements, they can alleviate pain and increase the jaw’s mobility.

• Jaw stretches — Targeted exercises, such as stretches, are essential for nearly all physical therapy treatment plans, including those for TMJ. Your physical therapist will walk you through safe and effective jaw stretches to help alleviate muscle tension. They may also show you neck, shoulder and face exercises.
• Posture exercises — If poor posture is contributing to your TMJ symptoms, your physical therapist may recommend exercises that could help you make gradual adjustments. Common postural exercises include back strengthening exercises and chin tucks.
• Dry needling — Physical therapists may use thin sterile needles in a technique called dry needling to stimulate muscle contractions, causing a release of the tension that’s causing pain and reduced mobility.

Alliance PTP can connect you with the physical therapy practice you need for TMJ treatment near you

Ready to try in-person physical therapy for your injury or condition? You’ll find plenty of options to choose from among the Alliance Physical Therapy Partners practices nationwide. 

Our team can quickly put you in touch with one of our partner clinics near you, and their friendly and knowledgeable local staff can help you find TMJ treatment near you.

Still have questions about what we and our partners can do for you? We’re ready to answer them and help you find the physical therapy you need.