What is TMJ dysfunction or Jaw pain ? How to fix it ?

-
What is TMJ dysfunction or Jaw pain? How to fix it?

TMJ irritation/pain is a very common complaint after injury or MVA. A lot of my clients did not know that PT can help. So today let take a look at the TMJ anatomy and treatment options.


The TMJ is a joint on the jaw allowing mouth open movements. There is an articular disc inside the joint, which could be the source of the pain after injury. Similar to other joints of our body, the TMJ might also develop into arthritis with overuse activities.

Things that might contribute to the TMJ irritation:
1. Direct injury with violence, MVA
2. Chewing gum or food mostly on one side
3. Leaning on one side of the jaw with hand
4. Sleeping on the belly with head turning to the left or right side in bed
5. Chronic grinding or clenching of teeth at night
6. Excessive hypermobility of joints

Tricks to check if you have a TMJ issue:
1. Open your mouth in front of a mirror and check if you jaw shifts toward sides or maintain in the neutral position.

2. Open your mouth as large as possible and check how much fingers you can place. The goal was 3 fingers or 2 knuckles.



3. Place your finger in front of the ear and check if you notice any "clicking" on the joint when you open the mouth
It is recommended to see a professional before any treatments. The TMJ irritation might also be related to the neck problem. A thorough exam of the neck and TMJ will be very informative.

Treatment options:
1. Avoid overuse of the TMJ
2. AROM of the jaw by opening the mouth in front of a mirror and avoid the side shifting;
3. Soft tissue mobilization of the muscles around the jaw
4. Self-mobilization of the jaw by pushing the jaw bone downward

















*Disclaimer:*The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources for educational purpose. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your healthcare provider because of any information you read on this topic. For more info or service of physical therapy in Albuquerque, please visit www.PTcares.com.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dry Needling by a Physical Therapist: What You Should Know

-
Image
Dry Needling by a Physical Therapist: What You Should Know I got questions about DN a lot recently. So here is a useful link to learn about Dry needling. https://www.moveforwardpt.com/Resources/Detail/dry-needling-by-physical-therapist-what-you-should A licensed PT with DN training will help you to deal with tightness, pain, and headache. My personal feeling about Dry Needling was not as great at the very beginning, mainly because of the limited evidence we have now.  But after seeing the change of my clients after DN, I recommend DN to all providers and clients. The baseline is the anatomy. Now I see the DN technique as a new approach to get to the deep and sensitive muscles. Usually, I will have to do a lot stretching and adjustment of the spine before the "angry tissues" will relax. That means more pain during the process and less compliant with my client. Now with DN approach, I can pinpoint the compensated tissues quickly. I mean genuinely PINPOINT ...
Read more

A true case of neck herniation presentation

-
Image
"Surgery, or not surgery?" Recently one of my clients had to make the biggest decision of her life. She will have to make up her mind and accept a fusion surgery on the cervical spine. The risk of paralysis with or without surgery is the biggest concern for her, not to mention the risk of infection, active bleeding and possibly expensive medical bills. Her MRI did show spinal stenosis with 4 intervertebral disks herniations, which match the constant spasm and very limited range of the neck and shoulders. She started to notice the weakness of the legs with mild tripping imbalance accidents. She almost cried when we talked about the possible surgery before further rehab. Constant spasm with tingling of the limbs usually indicates some impinging problem of the peripheral nerves close to the spine.  I strongly suggest anyone with a similar presentation go for professional help immediately. Compared to the expensive medical bills for surgery, the cost to...
Read more

What are Shoulder Rotator cuff muscles? Why they might be the source of your upper back, neck and shoulder pain?

-
Image
WWW.PTcares.com One of my clients was diagnosed with Rotator cuff muscles injury.  She asked me about the rotator cuff muscles and why they are contributing to the shoulder pain and neck pain.  Today we will talk about the function of rotator cuff muscles. There are 4 rotator cuff  muscles: Supraspinatus Infraspinatus Teres Minor Subscapularis The primary function of the rotator cuff muscles is to maintain the stability of the glenohumeral (GH) joint, which is part of the shoulder complex.  As you can see, there are 3 bones in the shoulder complex: Scapula, clavicle and humeral bone. When the rotator cuff muscles are weak and could not maintain the humeral head close to the glenoid of the scapula, the humeral head might not glide smoothly and impinge surrounding tissues, causing connective tissue problems, such as tendinitis, bursitis, capsulitis, or rupture of tendons or ligaments. When the connective tissues and mus...
Read more