TMJ Physical Therapy

TMJ Physical Therapy | Performance Physical Therapy | Maine

Are you suffering from TMJ pain?

TMJ, or the Temporo-Mandibular Joint, connects the temporal bone (the bone that forms the side of the skull) and the mandible (the lower jaw). The small disc of cartilage separates the bones, causing the mandible to slide easily whenever you talk, swallow, chew, or make other jaw movements. Damage to this joint can cause considerable pain, including symptoms such as jaw muscle stiffness, limited movement or locking of the jaw, neck pain, headaches, jaw soreness, painful clicking, popping or grating, and more. With TMJ physical therapy, we can help alleviate your pain.

We will work to achieve maximum, pain-free function of the muscles and joints of the jaw region by using the following techniques:

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Correcting Oral Mechanics

An individual can open their mouth upwards of 50,000 times per day. If oral mechanics are not correct it produces abnormal stress to the structures of the temporo-mandibular joint. This can produce the clicking noise that is often associated with TMJ pain.

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Teaching Relaxation Skills
& Decreasing Muscle Tone

Stress, if often held in shoulder and neck muscles, can affect head/neck posture and ultimately the jaw.

Performance Physical Therapy will teach you relaxation skills and exercises along with applying manual therapy and modalities to reduce the tension and muscle tone.

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Establishing Unclenched
Position of the Jaw at Rest

Normal jaw position means that the teeth are slightly apart at all times except when chewing or swallowing. Constant clenching will tighten the muscles across the cheeks as well as along the temples that can cause significant jaw pain and headaches.

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Helping To Obtain
The Best Head & Neck Alignment

Poor head and neck posture along with clenching your teeth increases the tension and pull on the jaw muscles. This can cause muscle spasms and jaw pain as well as neck pain and headaches.

Our TMJ physical therapy will help to establish a relaxed unclenched position through teaching relaxation, self mobilization, and stabilization exercises.

TMJ physical therapy will help by teaching you about improved head and neck posture through relaxation and stabilization exercises. Modalities and manual therapy may be administered to help decrease the tension and pain in the muscles.

TMJ Physical Therapy | Performance Physical Therapy | Maine
TMJ Physical Therapy | Performance Physical Therapy | Maine
TMJ Physical Therapy | Performance Physical Therapy | Maine

Contact Us Today

We value the patient-therapist relationship and offer an individualized program with the same physical therapist consistently providing care. If you’d like to learn more about our TMJ treatments, contact us today.