TMJ / Jaw Pain
TMJ disorders (TMD) cause jaw pain, clicking, popping, locking and trouble chewing, and physical therapy treats the joint and the muscles around it. Joint Effort Physical Therapy provides TMJ physical therapy in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and works alongside your dentist or physician when you have one.
Your jaw joint in plain words
The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is the hinge where your jaw meets your skull, just in front of the ear. It is made of bones, tendons and muscles. When it is injured or damaged, temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) can develop, with pain and stiffness in the joint and the muscles around it, on one side or both.
That can make it hard to open your mouth, talk, yawn and chew. If you have jaw pain when chewing, or hear jaw clicking when you open and close, TMD is a possible cause.
Symptoms people bring in
- Jaw pain on one or both sides
- Jaw popping or clicking
- Jaw locking, sometimes called lockjaw
- Sore jaw muscles and pain in the temple
- Earaches
- Headaches
- Difficulty chewing or yawning
Why the jaw starts to hurt
There are many reasons, and several often add up.
Teeth grinding and clenching jaw
Grinding and clenching overwork the jaw muscles and load the joint. Stress is a common trigger, and many people do both asleep without knowing.
Posture and the neck
A forward head posture and a stiff neck change how the jaw closes. See Neck Pain.
Injury, arthritis and the bite
A blow to the jaw, arthritis, gum chewing and misaligned teeth can all play a part.
What a TMJ session looks like
Because the neck, shoulder girdle and upper back affect the jaw, your first visit includes a comprehensive evaluation of those areas as well as how your jaw moves. Your physical therapist then builds a plan around your symptoms.
Treatment may include jaw mobilization and jaw exercises, manual therapy and myofascial release to release tension around the neck and head, electrical stimulation, Therapeutic Ultrasound and Dry Needling. We also work on habits, such as relaxing the jaw and breaking the clenching cycle, and on posture. The goal is to restore normal function and the way the jaw muscles and joints work together.
Working with your dentist or night guard
There is no single test for TMD, and a doctor or a dentist who treats jaw disorders may rule out other problems such as trigeminal neuralgia, salivary gland disease or swollen lymph nodes. Medication, over-the-counter pain relievers and a dental splint to stop grinding are other options your doctor or dentist may suggest.
Physical therapy fits alongside them. If you wear a night guard, keep wearing it; we treat the joint, muscles, neck and habits that the guard alone does not. Headaches from the jaw are covered here, while headaches with another source are covered under headaches and migraines.
Related care
TMJ and jaw pain care in Hot Springs, Arkansas
Joint Effort Physical Therapy treats TMJ and jaw pain at our Hot Springs clinic, 1880 Airport Rd., Suite C.
Not sure whether your plan needs a referral? Call us. As a courtesy, we verify your health benefits before you arrive.
Meet the people who treat you on our team page.