The top three goals of physical therapy for jaw pain

Chewing the food you eat. Talking to your family or co-workers. Sleeping soundly at night. Jaw pain can make every one of these normal daily tasks harder to do. 

The most common cause of jaw pain is temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Medical research shows that up to 12% of Americans experience a TMJ disorder annually. Many people might not know where to find treatment for a TMJ disorder and its symptoms. 

One option you might not have considered is meeting with a physical therapist. These specialists can help you find therapy that can reduce jaw pain. There are three goals that your physical therapist will have to meet in order to successfully reduce your jaw pain. 

Three goals of jaw pain therapy

The ultimate goal of jaw pain therapy is, of course, pain reduction. However, it’s only possible to meet this goal if your physical therapist meets three specific therapy goals in the course of your treatment.

The three goals your physical therapist will need to meet include: 

1. Improving jaw mobility — The first goal of this type of therapy is improving the mobility of your jaw. This means that your physical therapy team will help you find ways to increase your ability to move your jaw. Often, techniques like manual therapy are used to boost jaw mobility. By achieving this goal, you’ll be able to perform normal actions like chewing or yawning without the pain you’ve been experiencing.

2. Realigning your jaw — It’s not uncommon for jaw pain to stem from a misaligned jaw joint. Many times, your jaw moves out of alignment due to things like muscle imbalances or injuries. This lack of normal alignment can, in turn, lead you to experience pain in your jaw. By moving your jaw back into place, our team can remove this source of jaw discomfort. Typically, realigning your jaw involves doing specific therapeutic exercises that your physical therapist shows you.

3. Reeducating jaw muscles — Early in your life, your jaw muscles all had the strength and flexibility that they required to move your jaw normally and without pain. As time goes on, these muscles tend to tighten or loosen. This can occur because of poor neck and jaw posture. Your physical therapist will work to bring your muscles back to their original strength and flexibility levels. They’ll also show you techniques intended to improve your jaw and neck posture. Doing so can help to reduce your pain significantly.

Find effective jaw pain therapy at Advent Physical Therapy

Searching for a physical therapist who can meet these three goals? Our Advent Physical Therapy team includes specialists who can help you find effective jaw pain therapy. We’ll start by performing a free screening that can reveal the source of your pain. Then, our specialists will construct an individualized therapy plan designed to reduce your pain and reduce your risk of future TMJ disorders. 

Not able to make it to an in-person therapy session? No problem! Our team offers several therapy services that you can use from home, including virtual therapy and at-home care sessions. Additionally, our specialists can help treat your pain even if you don’t have a doctor’s referral for physical therapy. 

Take the next step to start getting our help with your jaw pain. Contact our team today for more information about our helpful physical therapy services or to schedule an initial appointment.