TMJ pain treatment from physical therapists in Kentwood, MI

A dentist is likely to be your first choice for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain treatment in Kentwood, Michigan. However, you may not be aware that dentists can have you seek physical therapy for your pain. This is because TMJ pain is often caused by non-dental issues with the jaw joint. For instance, you may have shoulder, neck or jaw muscle problems that may be causing your TMJ pain, which may be treated using several physical therapy techniques. 

1.   Joint mobilization

Arthritis could be one reason you’re feeling TMJ pain, and it can also cause you to move your jaw as little as possible. However, this enforced stillness can lead to increased stiffness and pain in the TMJ. To help combat these symptoms, a specific type of manual therapy called joint mobilization can be used by physical therapists. 

Joint mobilization involves performing movements specifically designed to reduce joint stiffness and pain, but you may have trouble doing these moves on your own at first. For this reason, a physical therapist can use their hands to gently guide your jaw through the movements. One example of a movement they may guide your jaw through is a lateral glide. This movement involves moving your jaw side to side to loosen the joint. 

2.   Soft tissue mobilization

Since TMJ pain can also come from tense neck and shoulder muscles, your therapist may also use soft tissue mobilization during your treatment. This technique is also a type of manual therapy, and it’s intended to release tension in the targeted muscles. The therapist will use their hands to manipulate the muscle in various ways. This can help release tension in the muscle and lead to decreased pressure on the TMJ. 

3.   Therapeutic exercises

The first two TMJ pain treatment techniques focus on reducing joint and muscle tension, but they may not be very helpful if the root cause of your pain is weak muscles. Weak muscles in your jaw, neck and shoulders can also place pressure on the TMJ, and this can cause the jaw to move in ways that are painful. Using various types of exercises, your therapist can help you build up muscles that control and support the jaw. In turn, this can help restore normal jaw alignment and reduce TMJ pain.

Advent Physical Therapy in Kentwood, MI, offers TMJ pain treatment

At our Kentwood clinic, our Advent Physical Therapy team has worked with patients and dentists to treat TMJ pain. In many cases, we receive information from your dentist about your condition, and we’ll do our own one-on-one screening to verify it. Then, we’ll put together a treatment plan that’s personalized to you, and your plan may include the three therapy techniques discussed above. 

With our help, you can be chewing with little or no pain sooner than you might think. Contact us today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment to treat your TMJ pain.