Your posture, and more notably, your head, neck and upper back posture can affect your TMJ in a number of ways. When you hold your head forward, it can place extra strain on the muscles and ligaments in your neck, head and jaw. What our TMJ chiropractors often see, that over time this can lead to pain, clicking or popping noises, and difficulty chewing.
In this blog post, our Geelong chiropractor for TMJ, Dr Luka, will discuss the consequences of poor posture on the TMJ and some strategies you can implement right away.
Here are some of the ways that head and neck posture can affect your TMJ:
- Increased muscle tension: When you hold your head forward, it puts extra strain on the muscles in your neck and jaw. This can lead to increases in muscle tension, which can cause pain, limit jaw movements and make it difficult to chew.
- Impaired joint function: When you hold your head forward, it can put stress on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which is the joint that connects your jaw to your skull. This can lead to impaired joint function, which can cause inflammation, pain, clicking or popping noises, and difficulty chewing.
Here are some tips from our TMJ chiropractor for improving your head and neck posture:
- Sitting up straight: When you’re sitting, try being more aware that your back is upright, long spine and your shoulders are relaxed. Try avoid slouching or hunching over.
- Standing up straight: When you’re standing, keep your spine long, chest proud and shoulders relaxed. Avoid leaning forward or slouching.
- Using a computer monitor at eye level: When you’re using a computer, make sure the monitor is at eye level. This will reduce the chance of hunching or slouching forward. This will in turn help to reduce the strain on your neck and jaw.
- Taking breaks: If you find yourself holding your head forward for a long period of time, take a break and stretch your neck and jaw. Frequent breaks can act as little posture reset, while also reducing the stress on these key areas.
- Seeing a health professional: If you’re experiencing TMJ pain, it’s important to see a TMJ chiropractor, dentist or other qualified health professional. They can help you determine the cause of your pain and recommend treatment options.
If you’re experiencing TMJ pain, it’s important to consult a professional to get a diagnosis and treatment plan. There are a number of effective treatments available for TMJ pain, and the sooner you start treatment, the sooner you’ll start to feel relief.
Our TMJ chiropractors in Geelong are experienced in managing a variety of TMJ disorders, if you’d like to discuss your specific case with us before an appointment contact us on (03) 4250 9865 or info@empowered-health.com.au