Physiotherapy Guide to Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, often referred to as TMJ disorder or TMD, can significantly impact one's quality of life, causing discomfort and hindering daily activities. Understanding its causes, recognizing symptoms, and exploring physiotherapy treatments are crucial steps toward finding relief and reclaiming optimal jaw function.

What is the TMJ? 

Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) acts like a hinge, connecting your jawbone to your skull. This joint is involved in our everyday lives, for example, eating, talking, and breathing. 

What are the causes of TMJ Dysfunction?

TMJ dysfunction can stem from various factors, including jaw misalignment, excessive teeth grinding or clenching, trauma to the jaw or face, arthritis, stress, poor posture, and muscle tension. These factors can contribute to inflammation, muscle tightness, and joint dysfunction within the TMJ complex.

What are the symptoms of TMJ Dysfunction?

Common symptoms of TMJ dysfunction include jaw pain or tenderness, difficulty chewing or biting, clicking or popping noises in the jaw, jaw stiffness or locking, earaches, headaches, facial pain, and neck or shoulder discomfort. These symptoms may vary in severity and can impact speech, eating, and overall well-being.

How can Delta Physiotherapy and Rehab help you? 

Physiotherapy offers effective interventions to alleviate TMJ dysfunction symptoms and address underlying causes. At Delta Physiotherapy and Rehab, we use a combination of neuromuscular electrical stimulation, manual therapy, gentle joint mobilization, and laser therapy to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and promote tissue healing. We also understand the importance of postural education and how posture can cause and/or aggravate TMJ dysfunction. For this reason, we also ensure that we provide guidance on ergonomic principles and posture modification to alleviate stress on the jaw and neck muscles, reducing TMJ-related discomfort. Lastly, we will also prescribe you exercises that will target specific exercises target muscles involved in jaw movement. This will enhance strength, flexibility, and coordination at the joint and in surrounding muscles to promote proper jaw function and reduce pain.

By addressing muscular imbalances, joint dysfunction, and contributing factors, physiotherapy offers comprehensive care for individuals suffering from TMJ dysfunction. With a tailored treatment plan and collaborative approach, individuals can find relief from pain and restore normal jaw function, enhancing their overall quality of life.

Book a free 15 minute consultation with us at Delta Physiotherapy and Rehab and we can get you started on your healing journey!