Unfortunately, these experiences are more common than they need to be. The take home message? There is hope – temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) can be treated, often times without surgery. Marbach and Lipten write “approximately 50% of all cases of TMD are the result of pain/tightness in the muscles used to open and close the jaw”. Luckily for jaw pain suffers, physical therapists are equipped with the tools necessary to reduce tension in these muscles and promote pain-free jaw movement. Treatment can include joint stretching and strengthening, muscle tissue mobilization, cupping and even dry needling.
People often wonder whether the symptoms they experience are related to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and whether physical therapy can help their symptoms. Here are a few questions to consider that may help:
Answering these questions can help you determine whether or not you should follow up with a healthcare practitioner.
If you are experiencing facial, jaw, and/or neck pain and answered yes to any of these questions, you could be suffering from TMD. If you are unsure, feel free to give us a call at Glackin Physiotherapy to determine if physical therapy is right for you.
If you have jaw pain with chewing reach out to us using our contact page today!
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