Unlocking the Mystery of Jaw Pain:
What You Need to Know!
Physiotherapy offers effective solutions for reducing jaw pain and enhancing jaw movements.
By incorporating targeted exercises and treatments, individuals can experience significant improvements in jaw function and discomfort relief.
This form of therapy is a popular and efficient method for managing and alleviating symptoms associated with jaw pain and mobility issues.
What Can Cause Jaw Pain?
Jaw pain can happen after dental procedure, where there is prolonged mouth opening with stretching of soft tissues and sometimes upset of the TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) movements.
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Trauma such as a direct blow to the jaw during contact sports can cause derangement of the TMJ, resulting in pain and or stiffness of the jaw.
Bruxing and clenching is often present in individuals who have TMJ disorders, where there is aberrant mandibular movements as a result of disturbed motor patterns. They can cause micro trauma to the joint structure with small noxious force over a long period of time.
Sitting with hand(s) supporting the jaw or direct pressure of TMJ during sleep can put excessive loading on the TMJ leading to movement pattern disturbances. it is important to avoid putting unnecessary excessive loading to the TMJ to minimise TMJ disorder.
Stress can increase muscle tension around the neck, shoulder and jaw regions, putting extra loading on the TMJ. The tension and discomfort over the TMJ can further reinforce the stress and tension felt.
Symptoms Of TMJ Disorder
Common symptoms of TMJ(Temporomandibular Joint) disorder include clicking of the jaw during mouth opening and or closing. Stiffness with reduced mouth opening and side gliding (laterotrusion) can cause difficulty with chewing and biting.
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Headache and pain over the orafacial areas are common complaints of people who have TMJ disorders
Physiotherapy Management of TMJ disorder
A thorough assessment of the TMJ is carried out with consideration of the influence of the head, shoulder girdle, mandibular positioning on the TMJ and orofacial region.
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Physiotherapy management include dry needling to reduce pain and muscle tension of the TMJ and orofacial region, education on proper neck, shoulder girdle positions to minimise excessive loading to the TMJ and orofascial area.
Precise Mobilisation with Movement (MWM) technique is applied to restore normal TMJ movement, re-educate and reinforce normal movement pattern. Home exercise program and advice is given to the individual with TMJ disorder to maintain normal movement pattern, reduce symptoms and promote recovery of the TMJ disorder.
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Our experienced physiotherapists have extensive clinical experience and additional training to manage the TMJ disorder.
