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TMJ Therapy On Bayview & Eglinton
TMJ is an acronym for the temporomandibular joint. These two joints are located in front of your ears and are where the muscles connect the jawbone to your skull. These muscles and joints are used for chewing, speaking and essentially provide for the range of motion for jaw movement.
A TMJ disorder is also referred to as TMD. When you feel pain in the TMJ joint, lower jaw or the muscles that affect jaw movement, you may be suffering from TMD.
If you experience any of the following, it may be an indication of a TMJ disorder:
In many cases, muscle spasms can prevent the recovery of TMD. Manual therapy provides one of the biggest benefits of seeing a physiotherapist because it’s able to target specific issues at the root cause of the problem. A physiotherapist can select any number of manual therapy techniques they feel will directly reduce muscles spasms. This promotes mobility and helps improve the alignment of your jaw.
If the underlying cause of the issue is an accident or trauma to the joint, there may be a great deal of stiffness. A physiotherapist can loosen the joint up and increase mobility with manual therapy. They will also provide you with a series of home care exercises and stretches that will increase and maintain the range of motion you’re working to achieve.
There are many patients that suffer from hypermobile joints or have weak muscles that don’t have the ability to hold the correct alignment. In these situations, physiotherapists will provide a specific strengthening program to target weak muscles. Your program will include in-clinic TMJ therapy as well as a self-care program that you will be responsible for completing from home.
The best treatment options for TMJ therapy require you to be properly assessed by a doctor, dentist, or physiotherapist to get to the source of the problem. Not every patient will require the same TMJ therapy. Once the issue is diagnosed a custom-tailored treatment program can be developed to correct the root source of the underlying issue.
Although there is some debate over the exact cause of TMD there are a few widely shared views on what causes TMD that most dentists and doctors agree on.
The pain you feel from arthritis is typically from swelling and tenderness in the joints. This can be the root cause of TMJ dysfunction.
Many dentists believe this is a common root source because of the constantly overworked muscles from grinding one’s teeth. This can lead to stiffness which leads to more tension and a lack of mobility in the joint.
If you’re experiencing any of the TMD symptoms listed above, we can help. Call us today to book an appointment or have a free over-the-phone consultation. Don’t just learn to live with the pain, let us put you on the road to recovery and move towards eliminating TMD forever.
We are here to help with all your bracing and insurance-related inquiries. Contact our clinic at (416) 500-4200, 7 days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.