TMJ
Manual Therapy for Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction
Manual Therapy for Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction
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What is TMJ Dysfunction?
TemporoMandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJD)
refers to a group of conditions which affect the jaw
joint, its articular disc and the muscles and
ligaments of chewing and swallowing.
The two major categories of TMJD are:
• myogenic or muscular disorders
• jaw joint and dentition disorders
The majority of TMJD sufferers experience relief
from effective treatment of myogenic or muscle-
related symptoms.
Other factors often causative or contributing to
developing TMJD are: postural malalignment,
stress, habits (e.g., night bruxism, gum chewing)
and connective tissue (fascia) strain patterns and
adhesions.
Effective manual assessment and treatment of
TMJD addresses the tissues close to the joint,
along with a specific group of other joints, fascia
and soft tissues.
Special jaw exercises, postural retraining,
biofeedback and behavioural modification are an
essential part of long-term relief.
TMJ-related symptoms
are caused by the effects of physical,
environmental, emotional and mental stresses on
the structures around the jaw joint. These
structures include:
• Cartilaginous disc at the joint
• Muscles of the jaw, face and neck
• Nearby ligaments, blood vessels and nerves
• Teeth
Who’s most at risk?
The risk for TMJ problems may be higher with these
factors:
• Gender: more women than men seek
treatment
• Age: people ages 30 - 50 are most often
affected
• Grinding teeth, clenching jaw
• Malocclusion (bad bite)
• High stress levels
• History of direct trauma to head, face, jaw
• History of whiplash
TemporoMandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJD)
refers to a group of conditions which affect the jaw
joint, its articular disc and the muscles and
ligaments of chewing and swallowing.
The two major categories of TMJD are:
• myogenic or muscular disorders
• jaw joint and dentition disorders
The majority of TMJD sufferers experience relief
from effective treatment of myogenic or muscle-
related symptoms.
Other factors often causative or contributing to
developing TMJD are: postural malalignment,
stress, habits (e.g., night bruxism, gum chewing)
and connective tissue (fascia) strain patterns and
adhesions.
Effective manual assessment and treatment of
TMJD addresses the tissues close to the joint,
along with a specific group of other joints, fascia
and soft tissues.
Special jaw exercises, postural retraining,
biofeedback and behavioural modification are an
essential part of long-term relief.
TMJ-related symptoms
are caused by the effects of physical,
environmental, emotional and mental stresses on
the structures around the jaw joint. These
structures include:
• Cartilaginous disc at the joint
• Muscles of the jaw, face and neck
• Nearby ligaments, blood vessels and nerves
• Teeth
Who’s most at risk?
The risk for TMJ problems may be higher with these
factors:
• Gender: more women than men seek
treatment
• Age: people ages 30 - 50 are most often
affected
• Grinding teeth, clenching jaw
• Malocclusion (bad bite)
• High stress levels
• History of direct trauma to head, face, jaw
• History of whiplash
Dysfunction:
• relieve up to 80% of jaw, neck, face & shoulder pain
• reduce or eliminate TMJ headaches
• diminish ringing in the ears and earaches
• improve your “bite” (dental occlusion)
• improve or normalize the movements of your jaw
• reduce jaw joint noises
• decrease swallowing problems
• release cellular trauma memory
• help you correct your posture
Manual therapy can give you relief from:
• facial, neck, shoulder and jaw pain
• headaches
• dizziness
• fainting
• ringing in the ears
• earaches
• numbness of face or jaw
• tingling, numb forearms or fingers
• clicking, popping or grinding jaw joint
• stiff jaw
• jaw locked open or closed
• teeth not touching with bite
• problems swallowing
• clenching or grinding teeth (especially at night)
• asymmetry of face and jaw
Click here to reference medical journal
articles supporting manual therapy for TMJD
• relieve up to 80% of jaw, neck, face & shoulder pain
• reduce or eliminate TMJ headaches
• diminish ringing in the ears and earaches
• improve your “bite” (dental occlusion)
• improve or normalize the movements of your jaw
• reduce jaw joint noises
• decrease swallowing problems
• release cellular trauma memory
• help you correct your posture
Manual therapy can give you relief from:
• facial, neck, shoulder and jaw pain
• headaches
• dizziness
• fainting
• ringing in the ears
• earaches
• numbness of face or jaw
• tingling, numb forearms or fingers
• clicking, popping or grinding jaw joint
• stiff jaw
• jaw locked open or closed
• teeth not touching with bite
• problems swallowing
• clenching or grinding teeth (especially at night)
• asymmetry of face and jaw
Click here to reference medical journal
articles supporting manual therapy for TMJD