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TMJ Disorder and Treatment in Woodstock, GA

Breathing, eating, and speaking normally depend on the Temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Unfortunately, a disorder in this joint can cause pain, aches, and difficulty when you chew. Your jaw may even lock, and you might be unable to open your mouth.

Without prompt treatment, your TMJ pain may become severe and chronic. The pain may even spread to your face, neck, and back. Fortunately, you can get treatment for TMJ disorder in Woodstock

What is TMJ Disorder?

Do you suffer from headaches, grinding of your teeth, clicking of your jaw, or even ear pain? These can all be signs of Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome, also known as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD). This a disorder of the jaw muscles and nerves caused by injury to the TMJ, which is the joint between your jaw and skull. The injured temporomandibular joint leads to pain with chewing, clicking, and popping of the jaw; swelling on the sides of the face; nerve inflammation; headaches; tooth grinding; and sometimes dislocation of the temporomandibular joint.

What Causes TMJ Syndrome?

Multiple factors contribute to the muscle tightness and dysfunction that characterize this condition. Most often, poor posture and neck alignment change the pull of the muscles that make your jaw move. This causes painful grinding and irritation of the TMJ. Other causes may include:

  • Poor alignment of or trauma to the teeth or jaw
  • Teeth grinding
  • Poor posture
  • Stress
  • Arthritis or other inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders
  • Excessive gum chewing

Benefits of TMJ Disorder Treatment

How Does Physical Therapy Help in TMJ Disorder Treatment?

The focus of physical therapy for TMJ is relaxation, stretching, and releasing tight muscles and scar tissue. In most cases, physical therapy can resolve TMJ and prevent the need for surgery. However, in cases where surgery is necessary, physical therapy is a vital part of the recovery process, as it helps minimize scar tissue formation and muscle tightness and allows for a complete recovery.

Physical Therapy for TMJ Treatment

TMJ treatment Woodstock uses several treatment techniques. Some of these treatments include;

Modalities

Heat or ice therapy, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound are common modalities for treating TMJ. Your physical therapist will examine your condition and determine the one that most suits you. These modalities are not painful. Instead, they address the pain in your TMJ to provide relief.

Joint Mobilization

Your physical therapist will use joint mobilization to treat TMJ pain. This treatment can help relieve pain and release the tension in your jaw. Because this treatment is hands-on, your physical therapist will use gentle motions to move your jaw and gradually work through the resistance manually.

This treatment will stretch and strengthen the tissue around your TMJ and help reduce pain. 

Therapeutic Exercises

TMJ disorder treatment at Hickory Flat involves therapeutic exercises. These exercises can help ease muscle tension and improve flexibility. Your physical therapist will recommend exercises that can improve the alignment of your head, neck, and jaw and provide support.

Stress Management

As earlier mentioned, stress is a cause of TMJ disorder. With stress management, you can ease TMJ pain and improve your condition. Your physical therapist can teach you how to manage stress and improve your condition.

How is TMJ Disorder Treatment in Woodstock Different From Others?

At FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers - Hickory Flat, our expert therapists perform thorough. Once the root cause of your problem has been discovered, a comprehensive plan can be developed to quickly relieve your pain and restore natural movement to your TMJ. Furthermore, our physical therapists will teach you techniques for regaining normal jaw movement for long-lasting results.

FAQs

Can TMJ Be Fixed With Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy can help alleviate TMJ pain. Your physical therapist will create a treatment plan that targets the cause of the pain. You may undergo posture improvement, joint stabilization, and relaxation exercises to fix your TMJ disorder.

What Is The Best Exercise For TMJ?

The best exercise for TMJ aims to improve flexibility and reduce joint stiffness. These exercises include chin tucks, side-to-side jaw movement, forward jaw movement, and relaxed jaw exercises.