Chiropractic Care for TMJ Pain
What is TMJ?
The temporomandibular joint, otherwise better known as the TMJ, is the articulation between the temporal bone of the cranium, the disc and the condyle of the mandible. This paired joint comprises of two key motions, rotation and translation, both of which allow the mouth to open and close. This functional relationship is important as it allows daily activities such as to chew, talk or yawn without much of a thought.
However, sometimes our TMJs can become painful or symptomatic, this is often referred to as a TMJ disorder. These symptoms can be of arthrogenic (the joint, disc etc) or myogenic (muscular) in nature. However, often these two are paired in a large portion of TMJ disorders, especially when they are chronic or ongoing.
There are factors which have shown to increase the likelihood of developing a TMJ disorder. Some of these factors include habitual clenching, grinding, occlusal issues, central nervous system sensitivity and more.
What symptoms can be involved in TMJ disorders?
While each person might experience TMJ disorders differently, some of the signs and symptoms of TMJ disorder may include:
– Pain in the jaw, face, head or ear
– Restricted jaw movement (normally mouth opening should be
– Difficulty eating or chewing
– Clicking or popping noises
– Locking of the joint
– Recurrent headaches
– Uncomfortable or change in bite
What does a Chiropractic assessment for TMJ disorders look like?
– History: Here we really want to know about the TMJ condition, the impact it is having and the goals you’d like to achieve with care
– Postural assessment: Evaluation the position of the spine, head and jaw. Optimising this can reduce TMJ stress.
– TMJ assessment: Focusing on muscle and joint function of the TMJ through range of motion, muscle testing, along with orthopaedic and neurological evaluation.
– External/internal TMJ assessment: Surveying the muscles of the face, head and jaw allows us to pinpoint muscles involved in pain and dysfunction.
– Referral for further diagnostic assessment (if clinically indicated)
What does chiropractic treatment for TMJ disorders look like?
– Education: Having a discussion around the nature of your problem and the treatment options available to you.
– Manual therapies: These can include mobilisations, dry needling, exercise therapy, with the aim of relieving pain and promoting better muscle and joint function.
– Exercise therapy: Self-management strategies you can do on your own to support your recovery.
– Advice: Strategies you can implement into your lifestyle to promote recovery, while minimising the risk of relapse.
Conclusion
While TMJ disorders can often have a significant impact on the daily activities of those experiencing, these can often be alleviated with conservative therapy directed at relieving pain and improving muscle joint function. TMJ therapy is considered a primary option for those seeking conservative, non-surgical and non-pharmaceutical help for their TMJ disorder.
Other helpful resources
For more information regarding TMJ management: https://tmjcare.com.au/
For exercise regarding TMJ disorders: https://www.youtube.com/@empoweredhealthchiro
For tips, exercises and other strategies for TMJ disorders: https://www.instagram.com/empoweredhealthchiropractic/
References
Pundkar, S. U. S. H. M. A., Patil, D. E. E. P. A. L. I., & Naqvi, W. A. Q. A. R. (2019). Effectiveness of Rocabado approach and Conventional Physiotherapy on pain, ROM and QOL in patients with TMJ dysfunction: Comparative Study. J Crit Rev, 6(6), 925-929.
Rezaie, K., Amiri, A., Takamjani, E. E., Shirani, G., Salehi, S., & Alizadeh, L. (2022). The Efficacy of Neck and Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Manual Therapy in Comparison With a Multimodal Approach in the Patients with TMJ Dysfunction: A Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial. Med. J. Islam. Repub. Iran, 36, 328-337.
Fiorillo, L., & Musumeci, G. (2020). TMJ dysfunction and systemic correlation. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 5(1), 20
