TMJ Physiotherapy
Temporomandibular disorders refer to a group of conditions affecting your jaw joint or temporomandibular joint or TMJ.TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint and refers to the two joints that connect your jaw bone or mandible, to the temporal bone of your skull. When functioning normally these joints allow you to move your jaw, chew, and speak without jaw pain or limitation. Problems with the TMJ that lead to jaw pain are called TMD (temporomandibular dysfunction). TMD treatment by a physiotherapist can greatly help improve symptoms. Physiotherapists use a combination of techniques such as manual therapy, soft tissue release techniques, exercises, modalities, IMS, and splinting to help with TMJ symptoms.
TMJ Physiotherapy aims to provide the following benefits:
Common problems treated with TMJ physiotherapy
​
​
-
Jaw pain / Jaw stiffness
-
Grinding / clenching
-
Facial pain
-
Reduced opening or closing of your mouth
-
Clicking
-
Locking
-
Headaches
-
Ear pain
-
Ringing in ears
-
Tooth pain
The physiotherapist will take a detail history, measurements of neck and jaw range of motion, assessment of the structures around the jaw, checking for joint clicking or popping, evaluation strength of jaw and neck muscles, postural assessment. Once your evaluation is complete, your physiotherapist will discuss the findings with you, make a customised plan of care and work with you to achieve your goals and improve your quality of life.
