Lately, we’ve been seeing a lot of patients who suffer from TMJ/TMD. We’ve also been asked a lot of questions about it such as: “what does PT do for TMJ?” and “how long does it take for PT to help with TMJ?”
Temporomandibular joint disorder, or dysfunction, (TMD) is a common condition that limits function of the jaw, such as opening the mouth and chewing. It currently affects more than 10 million people in the United States. TMD affects more women than men and is most often diagnosed in individuals aged 20 to 40 years.
Its causes range from poor posture, chronic jaw clenching, and poor teeth alignment, to fracture or conditions such as lockjaw, where the muscles around the jaw spasm and reduce the opening of the mouth.
Symptoms include:
The good news is that Physical Therapists can help patients with TMD ease pain, regain normal jaw movement, and lessen daily stress on the jaw. Based on your condition, your therapist will select treatments that will work best for you. Your treatments may include:
- Posture Education
- Improving jaw movement through corrective exercise and manual therapy
- Special pain treatments such as massage or dry needling
- Partnership with your dentist
Here are some general tips on prevention:
- Place any work you are focusing on (written documents, computer screens) directly in front of you and not off to the side where you are forced to look in one direction for long periods of time.
- Place your computer monitor at eye level so you don’t have to look up, down, or to the side throughout your day.
- If you are on the phone at work for long periods of time, use a headset that allows the neck and jaw to remain in a restful (“neutral”) position.
- Avoid repetitive chewing, such as chewing gum.
- Avoid smoking.
- Avoid opening the jaw too wide.
- Avoid eating hard or chewy foods.
- Maintain good oral hygiene and tooth health.
- Avoid sleeping on your stomach, which forces the neck to rotate to one direction in order to maintain an open airway, increasing stress on the TMJ.
Our PT’s at Fitzgerald are specially trained in treating TMJ. As for how long it takes to treat TMJ/TMD, everyone is different in their healing process. Our goal is to help you feel better! Visit our website here to learn more. Or easily book your appointment online now.
