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Jaw Pain: Possible Therapeutic Approaches at Physiomédic
Whether it is pain, clicking, difficulty in opening or closing the jaw, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems are common and can sometimes be disabling for the person suffering from them.
The role of the physiotherapist is often unknown to the public, but they can indeed help alleviate and resolve joint disorders, in conjunction with the follow-up done by a dentist/orthodontist. To perform the evaluation and treatment of the TMJ, physiotherapists must undergo postgraduate training on the subject.
Pain and blockages can be caused by various issues:
- Occlusion problems (which must also be managed by a dentist)
- Ligament hypermobility on one side of the TMJ compared to the other side
- Muscle imbalance of the masticatory muscles (muscle weakness on one side compared to the other)
- Displacement of the disc between the mandible and the temporal bone, occurring during the opening or closing of the mouth. This displacement causes an audible click, which may or may not be painful.
- Poor cervical posture, causing mechanical imbalance of the jaw, as the temporal bone is connected to the skull and cervical region. This poor posture can also cause cervical, cranial, and TMJ muscle tension
- Joint blockage of the cervical or thoracic vertebrae, given the connection mentioned above
- Bad habits (such as biting nails, chewing the inside of cheeks)
During your first visit, the physiotherapist will evaluate the TMJ and surrounding structures to identify the cause of your problem.
If the problem is due to muscle imbalance, they will perform muscle relaxation techniques on the tense side and teach you strengthening exercises for the other side to balance both TMJs.
If the issue stems from the cervical or thoracic vertebrae, they will restore joint and tissue mobility, which should help reestablish the biomechanics of the jaw.
If it is a posture problem, we will show you tips/exercises to help reestablish the biomechanics between the jaw and the cranio-cervical region.
At Physiomédic, our vision is interdisciplinary. Massage therapy could be beneficial to reduce cervical and thoracic muscle tension. Acupuncture could help reduce the pain felt, as well as muscle tension. Osteopathy could add techniques to relieve the cranial sphere, with the TMJ being a link between the mandible and the temporal bone, which is part of the skull.
In summary, if you have any form of jaw problem, rest assured that one of our therapists will be able to help you resolve it.