TMJ Treatment

TMJ Pain

If you’re suffering from jaw pain and stiffness, particularly when chewing, swallowing, and talking, you may be experiencing some of the most common symptoms of TMD.

TMD, which is also known as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder or TMJ Disorder, affects at least 25% of the population.

Your temporomandibular joints connect your jaw and mandible and are found just in front of each ear. Due to their location, these are busy joints, working all day as we eat, swallow, talk, and move around. It’s really no surprise that TMJ disorders appear as frequently as they do.

TMJ Disorder

Most common TMD/TMJ Disorder causes

    • Physical trauma to the jaw or mandible (car accident, sports incident, etc.)
    • Poor posture, which leads to pressure on the joints
    • Teeth clenching and grinding
    • Lack of sleep
    • Stress and an inability to relax
    • Arthritis
    • Food choices and/or gum chewing

Most common TMD symptoms

    • Pain when chewing, swallowing, and talking
    • Clicking or popping sounds
    • Tightness/reduced mobility
    • Headaches
    • Muscle spasms
    • Locked jaw


Photo Credit: US National Library of Medicine – National Institutes of Health

Benefits of Physio

Studies show that a combination of patient education/training, jaw exercises, and manual therapy provided by a skilled physiotherapist can help reduce discomfort while also addressing the root cause of the issue.

Keep scrolling for more information on what a typical TMD treatment plan at Acceleration Physiotherapy Sherwood Park may look like.

Why Choose Acceleration Physio for Your Rehab?

Extensive experience
Trusted by other medical professionals
Private treatment rooms

What to expect from your TMD treatment

A thorough and accurate assessment

The first and arguably most important step for your therapist is to understand and diagnose your issue. They’ll achieve this through an in-depth assessment process, which takes your physical, mental, and emotional health history into account. Only once your physiotherapist has thoroughly evaluated your unique situation can they create a treatment plan that’s tailored to your individual needs.

Education

Once they’ve properly diagnosed your concern, your therapist will take the time needed to educate you on their findings and plan moving forward. To create a meaningful impact, you’ve got to understand what’s going on in your body and be on board with the therapist’s plan for your treatment.

Manual Therapy

The next step is when the therapist rolls up their sleeves and uses advanced hands-on techniques to help eliminate your pain, increase your mobility, and restore your function so you can get back to pain-free living. This will include gentle massage, mobilization techniques, and manual stretching.

Exercise Prescription

Finally, to help create ongoing improvement and symptom resolution, your physio will prescribe stretches and/or exercises for you to work on at home, between visits. They’ll even send you videos/photos of each movement to keep you on track.

What’s Next

If you’ve got additional questions, please feel free to reach out to us at Acceleration Physiotherapy Sherwood Park.

To book your assessment, click here or on the BOOK NOW button at the top of the page.