TMJ/TMD Rehabilitation
Can't open your mouth to eat that sub? Jaw tired after talking on the phone? Do painful clicks and pops stop your laughing? You may be suffering from a Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ or TMD).
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder is defined by the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, MD as, "A collection of medical and dental conditions affecting the TMJ and/or the muscles of mastication, as well as contiguous tissue components." This problem has become so common in the U.S., it is now said to affect a population of over ten million people.
Factors that are known to influence TMJ inflammation and dysfunction include teeth clenching, stress, physical trauma (disc derangement), hypo or hypermobility of the joint itself, myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome of the cervical region including the shoulders and back, poor posture and structural abnormalities.
Symptoms- Head and/or ear pain.
- Sore and stiff jaw muscles.
- Locking of the jaw in a shut or open position.
- Frequent headaches and/or neck aches.
- Pain that worsens when teeth are clenched.
- Pain that worsens with stress.
- A clicking, popping, or grating sound within the jaw joint.
- Pain with opening/closing of your mouth.
- Teeth that no longer touch when you bite.
- Teeth that meet differently from time to time.
- Difficulty using your front teeth to bite or tear food.
- Teeth that are sensitive, loose, broken, or worn.
- Treatment.
Numerous physical therapy treatments and modalities are recognized as effective treatments for temporomandibular disorder. There is no simple treatment protocol that will effectively treat every patient with TMD. Therefore, the treatment selection must be individually designed to address each patient's symptoms and problems.
Treatment goals for TMD addressed by physical therapy are pain relief, decreasing muscle spasm in the masticatory and/or cervical musculature, decreasing intra-articular inflammation or tendonitis, restore normal mandibular function and motion without restriction, normalizing ROM, and education for self-management of the problem.
Our goal is to insure a timely and through evaluation followed by comprehensive physical therapy in coordination with you doctor.
