Jaw (TMJ)

Jaw (TMJ)

Many people do not know that the muscles around the TMJ/jaw can contribute to aches and pains in the head and neck. Tension carried in the region can interrupt blood flow to adjacent parts of the head causing aches, lethargy and light headedness. The Jaw is a common area of the body affected in people who are stressed, often being clenched or grinded. By releasing tight muscles of the jaw it is possible to rid yourself of these symptoms you did not know the origin. At City Physiotherapy we promote a prevention and wellbeing mantra and urge you to take the first step toward a healthier and happier life.

How does the Jaw work?

The jaw is a joint between the mandible and temporal bones and is an integral joint in many daily functions. Due to a poor joint surface area congruency (how well the two bones fit together) the Temperomandibular joint or TMJ (jaw) has a small cartilaginous disc that sits in between the two bones and help to make the jaw stable and movements easy and absorb shock from chewing movements.

What can go wrong?

Generally jaw problems fit into one of three categories; arthritis, pain relating to the joint or pain relating to the controlling muscles. If you experience pain in the jaw or facial region, painful clicking or popping noises of the jaw, an altered bite (the way the top teeth fit bottom teeth) or limited movement/locking of the jaw you should seek help from a health professional.

What can your physio do?

Your physio will always start by assessing your pain/problem and deciding the best way to treat this. The jaw is a complicated joint which can often experience problems such as dislocation or disc displacement which may or may not be treatable by your physio, however both of these conditions require correct rehabilitation by a physio to prevent subsequent events. Pain in the muscles controlling the jaw can commonly be treated by dry needling or pressure point therapy with excellent results.

BACK TO BLOG