Jaw pain and physiotherapy
Just last week I had almost 3 patients at my clinic complaining of pain near the jaw and inability to chew or eat anything hard. So I decided to write this blog about temperomadibular joint or the TMJ.
Let's just know what it is exactly first. The TMJ is the joint just front of your ears and is the one responsible for opening and closing of your mouth.
Symptoms of TMJ pain:
Let's just know what it is exactly first. The TMJ is the joint just front of your ears and is the one responsible for opening and closing of your mouth.
Symptoms of TMJ pain:
- Pain on opening and closing of mouth
- Clicking and/ or grinding
- Inability to fully open the mouth or clench the jaw.
Causes and contributing factors of TMJ pain:
- Prolonged mouth opening eg: dental procedure
- Stress
- Injury
- Poor neck posture
- Grinding of teeth
- Improper biomechanics or asymmetric of the jaw.
- Muscle imbalances.
Diagnosis:
TMJ pain or dysfunction is usually diagnosed by assessment and if required x-ray or ct-scan may also be advised.
It is also important to note that the joint is linked with your neck and hence the pain may be secondary to it.
Physiotherapy treatment:
- For pain relief: ultrasound, taping , myofascial release of muscles and fascia.
- Icing or hot fomentation can also be done according to the condition.
- Posture correction of cervical spine
- Joint mobilisation
- Relaxation and lengthening exercises
- Strengthening and stabilisation exercises.
- If required a night guard is given to people who have a habit of grinding or clenching the teeth in sleep.
This is however just a general information about the TMJ pain, for proper treatment a d guidance visit your doctor or physical therapist.
