Physical Therapy for Jaw Pain and TMD
A joint we use constantly throughout our day, the jaw, can become a point of irritation and pain in many people. Jaw pain can often be associated with neck pain, headaches, and tooth pain, and this can make it even more unbearable when dealing with it daily if not hourly. Our team specializes in treating jaw pain, so let’s chat about some elements we believe you should know in regards to your jaw!
Though we know the mouth moves dynamically, think about the jaw working up and down and then side to side. There are muscles at the level of the jaw, but also on our skull that control biting and opening the mouth. There is also an articular disc at each side which should move (albeit slightly) everytime the joint opens and closes. These muscles not operating appropriately, or this disc moving too much, are commonly the main two items we work to change in physical therapy for jaw pain.
When it comes to these muscles, we conceptualize them the same as any other muscle in the body when dealing with pain. Is it too tight or too ‘stretched.’ Is it too weak or too hypertonic/guarded. Looking at these from an umbrella perspective allows us to further dive into the details and solve the jaw pain riddle. We then can provide techniques to strength, stretch, and decrease guarding that begins and keeps the muscles moving in the direction we desire!
When it comes to the disc, we have to consider what is influencing the disc. We actually have two muscles within the jaw that attach to the disc, so muscles remain at play here. There is also the joint that is ever apparent. By influencing how the joint moves and how those two muscles interact at the disc, more leaps and bounds can be made!
As always, everyone’s jaw pain is very individualized and specific to them so that is why we treat all jaw pain cases as their own unique case, but these is where we start. We love to utilize dry needling and intraoral manual therapy for jaw pain, and then always progress into some exercises for the jaw as well as for the neck and upper back. Research shows us that jaw pain isn’t always just the jaw, so we treat the region to make sure we are capitalizing on all success options!
Looking for assistance in relieving your jaw pain and wondering how physical therapy can help you? Let’s chat! We would be happy to discuss further how Loon State Physical Therapy can be a teammate in getting you back to moving and feeling your best! Our convenient Minneapolis physical therapy, Edina physical therapy, and Stillwater physical therapy locations will happily welcome you to get you back to moving at your best. Call us at (612) 405-8503 or book with us online at www.loonstatephysicaltherapy.com for an in-person or virtual appointment.
We look forward to being your teammate through this journey!
Andrew Eccles
Owner and Physical Therapist at Loon State Physical Therapy
