Can A Physical Therapist Help With TMJ?

Most people don’t know that physical therapists can help with TMJ problems.  The truth is, some physical therapists have had specialized training in treating problems related to jaw pain as a result of TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder).

There are physical therapists who are trained specifically to treat jaw, facial and cranial problems stemming from TMJ. Here, at ABove Physical Therapy – we have those therapists!

How Do Physical Therapists Treat TMJ?

Treatment involves any of the following:

  • Modalities such as applying heat and/or ice.
  • Manual treatments such as massage, dry needling and ultrasound.
  • Exercises to specifically strengthen the muscles in the jaw area.

Heat And Ice

  • The use of moist heat placed along your jawline can help to reduce your level of pain.
  • The use of ice can also reduce your pain but it can also work to decrease inflammation.

Massage

There are essentially 3 types of massages that we use on our patients with TMJ problems:

  • A Kneading type of massage – the physical therapist uses their fingers to create a consistent circular type of motion against the temperomandibular joints and the surrounding muscles.
  • A Trigger Point massage – the physical therapist applies a constant, steady pressure on the mandible muscle (the lower portion of the jaw along the jaw line).
  • A Stretching massage – the physical therapist presses down on the muscles associated with the temperomandibular joint and slowly stretches them outward.

Our physical therapists are highly trained in Buccal massage, Intra-Oral NeuroMuscular Therapy, Myofascial Release, Visceral Massage Therapy and Trigger Point Massage – which are all excellent massage techniques for TMJ problems.

Note: Massage may make the symptoms of any jaw pain worse if the jaw pain is due to an infection. We strongly recommend that prior to visiting a Physical Therapist for treatment for TMJ or any type of jaw pain that you consult with your physician / dentist first.

Dry Needling

  • Dry Needling is a therapy technique performed by a licensed practitioner utilizing one or many thin filament needles inserted into the muscle or soft tissue, such as tendons and ligaments. The purpose of this is to release muscle tension and pain.

Ultrasound

The use of ultrasound is very similar to applying moist heat to the muscles that are contributing to the TMJ problem.  The difference is that the heat provided by the ultrasound penetrates deeper into the tissue area which will hopefully provide relief to the patient.

Exercises

Exercises that best help to relieve issues related to TMJ are those focused on facial, oral, neck and shoulder muscles.
The goal of these exercises is to strengthen the musculature in these focused areas which should help to prevent future problems related to your temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

What Can Be Done For TMJ?

The type of doctors that can treat TMJ problems are oral and maxillofacial specialists, ENT (ear nose and throat specialists) and some dentists specialize in treating TMJ.

Each of these different specialties approach the treatment of TMJ differently and of course, the cause of the problem also dictates the treatment plan as well.

For us, as physical therapists, our focus is on helping our patient to improve their overall muscular strength and flexibility concerning the oral, facial, neck and shoulder muscles that can all contribute to the cause of the TMJ.

As we stated above, our tools of treatment are modalities, exercise and manual manipulation.

Do TMJ Exercises Work?

In short, for most individuals, TMJ exercises do work but they must be done only after you have seen a physician.

The exercises should be performed with the supervision of a physical therapist to help you perform them correctly to avoid further injuring yourself.

If you are prone to TMJ problems, your physical therapist can also give you a series of exercises that you can keep on doing in order to maintain that flexibility and strength that you need to help you avoid future flare ups.

What Exercises Are Good For TMJ?

In general, the types of exercises that work best for TMJ include…

  • Relaxing – stress and tension are two contributors often found in many TMJ patients.  So, it makes sense that learning to relax your body and your mind will help to alleviate the tension in your jaw, face, neck and shoulders.
  • Stretching – there are many different types of stretching exercises that you can perform (after you have been trained by a physical therapist) to help to keep your muscles flexible and relaxed which in turn will help you to avoid any future problems.
  • Strengthening – exercises to make your facial and jaw muscles stronger are also recommended and your physical therapist can work with you to begin this process but again, this is something that should be continued in order to help to stave off future problems with your TMJ.

You can find many exercises online that are meant to help relieve your TMJ pain and strengthen your muscles but again, depending on your specific injury, your level of recovery and the recommendations by your physician and/or physical therapist we caution you on using these exercises on your own.

Better to be safe than sorry.

Does Dry Needling Work For TMJ?

The main purpose of using the dry needling technique is to target and release specific muscles in the body.  For this reason, dry needling is very effective in treating muscular pain.

And that goes for TMJ pain as well – as long as the TMJ problems are being caused by tight muscles.

If you have any questions concerning treatment for TMJ and live near the Suwanee, Georgia area – give us a call at ABove Physical Therapy at 770-904-2332.  We are here to help and look forward to hearing from you.