Did you know that muscular tightness can be a cause of TMJ pain? I recently treated a client who came in with jaw pain and had a hard time opening their mouth, but experienced no clicking. After a thorough assessment, the client was advised about proper posture, muscle relaxation techniques, and stretching exercises. The client reported significant improvement after just one session of following these simple techniques.
What is TMJ?
TMJ, short for temporomandibular joint, connects your lower jaw to your skull. Disorders affecting this joint and its surrounding muscles can lead to discomfort and interfere with daily activities.
Symptoms of TMJ Disorders
Symptoms can vary but often include:
- Jaw pain or tenderness
- Reduced jaw mobility
- Clicking, popping, or grating sounds when moving the jaw
- Ear pain or ringing
- Headaches or migraines
- Facial pain or swelling
- Toothache or sensitivity
These symptoms may fluctuate and can worsen due to stress, cold weather, or certain activities like teeth clenching.
Causes of TMJ Disorders
While pinpointing exact causes can be challenging, potential contributors include:
- Jaw injury or trauma
- Jaw arthritis
- Jaw muscle tightness
- Teeth grinding or clenching
- Teeth misalignment
- Poor posture
- Stress, anxiety, or depression
Physiotherapy for TMJ Disorders
Physiotherapy is a key component of TMJ disorder management at Belmont Physiotherapy and Health Clinic. After a thorough assessment that includes history taking, posture evaluation, range of motion assessment of the neck and jaw, and manual examination of the neck and TMJ, your physiotherapist will explain your treatment plan, which may include:
- Posture advice
- Pain management techniques
- Mobilization
- Soft tissue release therapy
- Dry needling/IMS/Acupuncture
- Modalities like LASER and ultrasound
3 Ways Physiotherapy Can Help with TMJ Pain
1. Improve Your Posture
Poor posture affects not only your neck and spine but also your TMJ. Sit in a relaxed position and check your posture. Your head should be gently tucked in, and your tongue should be resting on your upper palate.
2. Practice Relaxation Exercises
It might be hard to believe, but muscle tightness caused by improper posture and stress can also lead to TMJ pain. Diaphragmatic breathing can help you relax chest muscles.
How to practice diaphragmatic breathing:
- Lie down in a comfortable position
- Place one hand on your stomach and close your eyes
- When you breathe in, your stomach should rise
- When exhaling, your stomach should go down
- Repeat 4-5 times
- Your exhale time should be slightly longer than your inhale time
3. Apply Moist Heat
Wrap a heat pack around your neck so it covers both your neck and jaw for 15 minutes while performing relaxed breathing exercises.
To schedule an appointment, call us at 604-427-2172 or visit our website at www.belmontphysio.ca. Take the first step towards improved health and well-being with our dedicated team.