TMJ before and after physical therapy

Many people try to grin and bear pain in hopes that it will go away on its own. But when that pain makes it difficult to carry out daily necessary actions, such as talking and eating, it’s time to find treatment options that can help.

TMJ dysfunction is a condition that can interfere with your overall quality of life by preventing you from opening your mouth wide enough to chew food or even yawn. While many people believe that problems with the jaw can only be solved by a dentist, physical therapy is one of the most effective ways to treat TMJ symptoms.

We’ll talk about what TMJ dysfunction is before diving into how you can be affected by the condition before and after physical therapy.

What you need to know about TMJ dysfunction

TMJ is the common term used for TMJ disorders or TMJ dysfunction. TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint, which connects your skull to your jaw and works as a sliding hinge. 

Temporomandibular disorder, or TMJD, refers to more than 30 conditions that cause jaw pain and dysfunction in both the joint and the surrounding muscles. TMJ dysfunction is prevalent in up to 12% of the adult population.

There are several potential causes of TMJ, including:

• Injury.
• Poor posture.
• Arthritis.
• Stress.
• Grinding teeth at night (bruxism).

What TMJ dysfunction feels like before physical therapy

Now that we’ve talked about what TMJ dysfunction is, it’s time to talk about what it feels like.

When your temporomandibular joint, and the nearby muscles, aren’t able to properly function, it can lead to a variety of symptoms that make it difficult to carry out your regular mouth movements, including:

• Jaw pain.
• Feeling like your jaw is “locked.”
• Reduced jaw mobility.
• Headaches.
• Clicking or popping sounds.

The longevity of TMJ dysfunction is different for everyone, depending on the cause. Some people only experience temporary, mild TMJ symptoms that go away on their own. For others, the pain and reduced jaw mobility can last days or weeks. When your TMJ symptoms are persistent or worsening, it’s time to explore the option of physical therapy.

What TMJ dysfunction feels like after physical therapy

Before physical therapy, TMJ dysfunction can make every jaw movement difficult and painful. A physical therapist can design a personalized treatment plan to alleviate your TMJ symptoms based on the severity and cause.

Physical therapy is an effective option for TMJ dysfunction because it not only helps alleviate your current symptoms, but it also improves the overall quality of the jaw joint area to help it function properly in the future.

After TMJ treatment in physical therapy, you can experience:

• Reduced TMJ symptoms.
• Improved jaw movement and mobility.
• Increased jaw muscle strength.
• Improved posture.
• Reduced painful and stiff scar tissue.

Effective physical therapy techniques for TMJ dysfunction 

Once you experience the symptoms of TMJ dysfunction that are making it painful to eat your favorite meals or laugh with your friends, it’s time to explore the physical therapy treatments that can help.

There are a variety of treatments that can help your TMJ, and your physical therapist will determine which ones are the safest and most effective option for your particular symptoms. 

Physical therapy techniques for TMJ include:

• Jaw exercises — There are a variety of stretches that can help loosen up the tight tissue surrounding your jaw, such as chin tucks, to improve the joint’s mobility. Your physical therapist can also show you how to do exercises that will increase the strength of your jaw to improve its function.

• Manual therapy — Your physical therapist can use their hands for manual therapy techniques, such as soft tissue mobilization, to break up the tight tissue that’s contributing to your pain and stiffness.

• Posture correction — A potential cause for your TMJ symptoms is poor posture. Overextending your neck and slouching your shoulders can cause misalignment in your jaw. Your physical therapist can help you make gradual adjustments to your posture to decrease your symptoms in the future.

• Stress relief techniques — Stress is a possible cause for TMJD. When you’re stressed, you tend to clench your jaw or grind your teeth, which puts excessive pressure on the TMJ and surrounding soft tissue. By learning stress management from your physical therapist, you can improve your mental health while reducing TMJ symptoms.

Advent Physical Therapy can show you the before and after of TMJ treatment 

TMJ symptoms can feel like they’ll never go away, but physical therapy can show you that you don’t have to deal with the pain forever. With our physical therapy, you can experience the change from before and after TMJ treatment.

Call us or request an appointment today to treat your TMJ dysfunction.