Jaw Pain, Clicking or Headaches?
Temporomandibular disorders (TMD), often called TMJ dysfunction or TMJD, can affect the jaw joint, surrounding muscles, face and neck. Symptoms can make everyday activities such as chewing, talking, yawning or opening your mouth uncomfortable.
Physiotherapy can assess the musculoskeletal factors that may be contributing to your jaw symptoms and provide an individualized treatment plan.
Serving Erin, Hillsburgh, and the surrounding communities at Erin Physiofitness.
Signs & Symptoms of TMJ DysfunctionTMJ/TMD can present differently from person to person. Physiotherapy assessment may be appropriate if you are experiencing:
- Jaw pain or tenderness
- Clicking, popping or other jaw noises
- Jaw locking or catching
- Difficulty or discomfort opening your mouth
- Pain or difficulty with chewing
- Facial pain or muscle tension
- Headaches associated with jaw or neck symptoms
- Jaw clenching or teeth grinding
- Neck pain or stiffness associated with jaw symptoms
What Does TMJ Physiotherapy Involve?
Your initial assessment looks at more than just the jaw. Depending on your symptoms, your physiotherapy assessment may include your:
Jaw joint & movement
Jaw opening, closing and movement patterns can be assessed for mobility, symptoms and function.
Jaw & facial muscles
The muscles involved in chewing and jaw movement can be assessed for tenderness, tension and function.
Neck & upper body
The neck and surrounding musculoskeletal system may also be assessed when relevant to your symptoms.
From there, treatment is individualized based on your assessment findings and goals.
What Can Treatment Include?
Depending on your assessment, TMJ physiotherapy may include:
- Manual therapy
- Jaw mobility and coordination exercises
- Neck treatment and exercises
- Education and self-management strategies
- Exercises tailored to your individual presentation
- Intra-oral manual therapy when appropriate and with your consent
What is intra-oral treatment?
Some of the muscles involved in jaw function are located inside the mouth.
When clinically appropriate, treatment may include intra-oral manual therapy, where the physiotherapist works on these muscles from inside the mouth.
Intra-oral treatment is only performed when appropriate and with your informed consent.
Your treatment plan can be discussed and adapted based on your individual needs and comfort.
Meet Your Physiotherapist
Larisa Emmons, Registered Physiotherapist, CTMD
Larisa has completed advanced postgraduate education in the assessment and treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMD/TMJ dysfunction), jaw pain, headaches and related musculoskeletal conditions.
Her approach combines hands-on treatment, exercise, education and individualized strategies based on assessment findings and each patient’s goals.
Looking for TMJ Physiotherapy in Erin?
TMJ physiotherapy appointments are available at Erin PhysioFitness in Erin, Ontario, serving patients from Erin, Hillsburgh and surrounding communities.
Whether you are experiencing jaw pain, clicking, locking, headaches, facial tension or difficulty with jaw movement, an assessment can help identify relevant musculoskeletal factors and determine whether physiotherapy may be appropriate for you.