TMJ
Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ/TMD)
Get appropriate, effective care & lasting relief for the pain & impaired function of TMD at Orthopedic & Sport Therapy Services in Rochester or Somersworth, New Hampshire.
If you have facial pain, jaw pain, headaches or locking, popping or clicking in the jaw, you may have a temporomandibular disorder (TMD). While disorders of the jaw joint, or temporomandibular joint (TMJ), are common, relief of pain and restoration of function can be challenging. Worse, without effective care, the pain and improper oral function can disrupt nearly every aspect of your life.
You can get relief from the pain & dysfunction of TMD.
The good news is that it is possible to relieve the pain and restore normal TMJ function. The key is to accurately assess the problem and then provide treatment that is appropriate and effective. Today, physical therapy figures prominently into effective treatment, sometimes alone and sometimes in conjunction with other treatment methods.
Trust our comprehensive, results-driven approach.
At Orthopedic & Sport Therapy Services, our residency-trained orthopedic manual physical therapists are uniquely qualified and able to assess the jaw and other systems involved in TMD. These include the cervical spine (neck), the thoracic spine (upper back), neurological structures and support musculature. With this comprehensive approach, we’re better able to treat the aspects of the disorder related to posture and muscular imbalance. It also leads to optimal results.
Another key aspect of our comprehensive approach to TMD — and to physical therapy in general — is that we constantly evaluate the effectiveness of our therapy. We gauge the success of our TMD care functionally and with regard to pain. Our functional goal is for you to be able to open your mouth, chew your food and eat normally (or with few restrictions). For pain, the goal is substantial — or total — relief.
Focused therapies to get you back to what’s important.
Our therapists choose from a variety of treatments to develop a program that’s right for you. Our choices include therapeutic ultrasound, soft-tissue mobilization, mobilization of the cervical spine and certain facial structures, strengthening of the postural musculature, cervical stabilization and many other techniques. Yet, experience has taught us that patient education and home exercise are essential to achieving and maintaining gains.
With our focused therapies, the vast majority of patients are able to control their symptoms. In addition, because it is conservative treatment, it’s a more cost-effective, noninvasive way to get back to living a more normal life.