An estimated 1 in 12 people are affected by TMJ Disorders in the U.S. right now, and women are 4 times more likely to experience this than men.
TMJ pain is not something to brush off!
In the U.S. per 100 million working adults, TMJ causes the loss of approximately 17.8 million work days a year. ?
What is TMJ?
TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint. A joint is a connection between bones, so this joint connects the mandible (lower jaw) to the temporal bone (side of the skull). To feel this joint in motion, put your fingers in front of your ear and move your jaw around. Think of all the times you use this joint! Chewing, talking, yawning, and swallowing are all made possible by the temporomandibular joint.
Here?s where problems arise:?
The makeup and movement of this joint is?more complex than most other joints in the body. There are so many components and moving parts that can cause problems.?
The Temporal Mandibular Joint (TMJ) is the joint between the jaw (known as the mandible) and the skull (temporal bone). It is the one that is near your ear and moves when you open your mouth. – it is used every time we chew, talk, yawn, or even swallow.
The joint’s anatomy, as well as its movement, is very complex. Because of this, the TMJ can become dysfunctional and can cause pain in the jaw or face, popping or clicking during chewing, limitation of jaw movement, or even headaches.
This is a condition known as Temporal Mandibular Dysfunction (TMD). The muscles involved in TMD are frequently an untreated factor in patients with headaches that may have failed other forms of treatment.
What can we do to help?
There are different methods we use to treat TMD (Temporal Mandibular Disorders) depending on our evaluation of the patient’s their TMJ and cervical spine.
Treatment Possibilities:
Soft tissue work (including scraping technique and dry needling) Jaw mobilization Neck manipulation Rehabilitation exercises
