TMJ/TMD in Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra

Do you often suffer from headaches, jaw soreness, or hear a clicking sound when you move your jaw? These might be signs of Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) syndrome or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJD). This condition impacts the jaw muscles and nerves, usually due to damage to the TMJ – a critical joint that links your jawbone to your skull. Symptoms can include difficulty while chewing, jaw clicking, facial swelling, nerve discomfort, teeth grinding, and sometimes, even jaw dislocation.

What Causes TMJ Syndrome in Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra?

TMJ syndrome can emerge from various factors, leading to muscle strain and joint dysfunction. One prevalent cause is poor neck posture, resulting in altered muscle tension and subsequent jaw grinding and TMJ distress. Other factors include:

Teeth or jaw misalignment or trauma
Consistent teeth grinding (bruxism)
Habitual poor posture
Prolonged stress or anxiety
Arthritis or similar inflammatory conditions
Overuse of gum-chewing

Our skilled physical therapists start by conducting a comprehensive assessment to pinpoint the primary cause of your TMJ syndrome. This allows us to craft a personalized plan to alleviate your discomfort and restore the natural function of your TMJ. Additionally, we provide you with strategies to maintain optimal jaw movement, ensuring long-term relief.

Our therapists focus on not just immediate symptom relief but also on strategies to prevent recurrence. This includes educating patients on lifestyle changes, ergonomic adjustments at work or home, and daily exercises that can easily be integrated into their routines.
Managing stress is another vital aspect of our treatment plan. Given that stress can aggravate TMD symptoms, our therapists often include relaxation techniques and stress-reduction exercises in our therapy sessions. These methods not only help reduce jaw tension but also enhance overall well-being.
Dietary recommendations are an essential part of our therapy approach. We guide patients on selecting TMJ-friendly foods, which helps minimize jaw strain during eating. This comprehensive approach ensures that our treatment’s benefits extend beyond our therapy sessions, equipping patients with the knowledge and tools they need for effective self-management.
Recognizing the interconnected nature of bodily systems, our therapists also focus on improving overall posture and alignment. This holistic approach addresses any compensatory patterns developed due to TMJ pain, ensuring thorough recovery and reducing future complications. We aim to provide immediate relief and a pathway to sustained health and comfort.

Physical Therapy Evaluation for TMD

Your initial TMJ/TMD evaluation involves a detailed discussion about your symptoms, dietary habits, and any previous TMJ/TMD discomfort treatments. The evaluation may include various tests to determine the best treatment approach.
Our physical therapy assessment might cover the following:

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Assessing the range of neck and jaw movement
Examining jaw structure
Identifying joint sounds like clicks or pops
Evaluating jaw and postural muscle strength
Analyzing overall posture

After the assessment, we’ll discuss the findings, create a tailored care plan, and set therapy goals.
To manage TMD effectively, it’s recommended to avoid:

Using teeth as tools
Habitual nervous chewing
Eating hard, chewy, or crunchy foods
Poor posture maintenance
Stomach sleeping
Teeth grinding
High-stress situations

What Effect Can Dry Needling and Manual Therapy Have With TMJ/TMD?

Dry needling releases tense muscle bands through a controlled micro-trauma. This stimulates natural healing pathways to resolve pain and dysfunction. Simultaneously, manual therapy applies customized pressure through the hands to restrictions in surrounding musculoskeletal tissues. Techniques mobilize joints, decompress nerves, elongate shortened tissues, and drain swelling. Together, these interactive therapies reboot local areas out of compression and spasm. This regulates the nervous system and vascular flow to reinforce flexible mobility.

How Can Physical Therapy Help with TMD?

Physical therapy is a potent solution for TMD, a condition that causes jaw pain. A TMD-certified physical therapist can identify the root cause of your discomfort and enhance jaw functionality.
Our physical therapists use non-invasive methods to reduce pain and restore natural jaw movement. Specializing in TMD evaluations and treatments, we offer comprehensive assessments and personalized care plans with various treatment options. Physical therapy can effectively manage TMD, even in cases of severe, persistent symptoms.

Visit Our TMD Specialists in Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra

Our TMJ physical therapy approach focuses on relaxing and stretching tight muscles and breaking down scar tissue. Often, physical therapy can resolve TMJ issues, making surgery unnecessary. However, in cases where surgery is essential, physical therapy plays a vital role in recovery, helping to minimize scar tissue, alleviate muscle tightness, and ensure complete rehabilitation. Contact us today for more information.