TMJ Disorders: How Dry Needling Can Help

When compared to other treatment options and sham therapy, dry needling improved pain intensity and pressure pain threshold.

Interestingly, when compared to wet needling with local anesthetic, Lignocaine, dry needling had similar outcomes in the short-term.

This is thought to be due to a cascade that reduces a specific neurotransmitter, increasing local muscle oxygenation levels, leading to relaxation of muscles in the area.

Often an outcome of pain and muscle activity reduction, allowing for a greater range of motion of the TMJ.

Dry needling has been considered a neuromuscular de-programmer, due to its changes at a nervous system & muscular level.

Often these changes, in conjunction with exercise therapy, can promote better muscle & joint function of the jaw.