TMJ Consultations
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is located between the cheek and the ear. Pain at the TMJ can be mild to severe, isolated to the joint or widespread to the neck and head.
Physio can assess and treat muscular contributors to this pain in ways other health practitioners may not be able to, or to refer patients to the necessary health practitioners
The role of Physio in TMJ Disorders
Over 50% of TMD are of muscular (myofascial) origins while the rest are due to inflammation at the joint. To work out the difference in a physiotherapy assessment, we not only look at the jaw and ear (sometimes with a gloved hand, like a visit to the dentist) but also the neck and head movements and posture.
What a Physio can do to treat TMJ Disorders
Physiotherapy treatments for TMJ disorders, including pain relief, muscle relaxation, exercises, and lifestyle modifications
01
Pain Relief Techniques
Physiotherapy focuses on relieving TMJ pain by relaxing overworked jaw muscles and strengthening weaker ones. This approach helps restore balance, reduce discomfort, and improve overall jaw function
02
Targeted Treatments
Treatment includes hands-on techniques like massage and dry needling to relieve muscle spasms, along with joint mobilisation to restore movement. Physiotherapists may also prescribe tailored neck, jaw, and shoulder exercises
03
Lifestyle Modifications
Addressing habits like teeth clenching and grinding is crucial for long-term relief. Physiotherapists identify contributing factors, recommend realistic lifestyle changes, and collaborate with other professionals if needed for effective management
Evidence for the benefits of Physio
Conservatively managed TMJs can decrease pain, improve mouth opening and resolve TMD within 3 months.
Recent systematic reviews support treating the TMJ and neck in combination as it is more effective than treating the neck alone for TMD. Interestingly, outcomes are comparable between counselling + TMJ exercise or counselling + splinting therapy. So if you haven’t seen a dentist yet or had a splint made, it’s definitely worth trying physiotherapy.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Head, Neck and Back✔ Acute & chronic low back pain ✔ Chronic back pain ✔ Disc bulges, protrusions, prolapses ✔ Disc degenerative joint disease ✔ Herniated disc ✔ Mid back pain & stiffness ✔ Neck pain, dizziness, vertigo & headaches ✔ Rib cage dysfunction ✔ Scheuermann's disease ✔ Sciatica, nerve pain & nerve radiculopathy ✔ Scoliosis ✔ Spinal stenosis & spinal fusion rehab ✔ Spondylolysis & spondylolisthesis ✔ Thoracic outlet syndrome ✔ T4 syndrome ✔ TMJ dysfunction ✔ Wry neck ✔ Whiplash & concussion
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Shoulder✔ AC joint sprains ✔ Arthritis ✔ Bankart lesions ✔ Bicep tendon ruptures ✔ Frozen shoulder (Adhesive capsulitis) ✔ Hill Sach lesions ✔ Labral tears ✔ Long thoracic nerve palsy ✔ Pec strains/rupture ✔ Rotator cuff tear and rotator cuff injuries ✔ Scapular dyskinesia ✔ Shoulder impingement ✔ Shoulder instability, dislocation, subluxation ✔ SLAP lesion/tear ✔ Subacromial & subdeltoid bursitis ✔ The painful and stiff shoulder ✔ The painful and unstable shoulder ✔ The painful and weak shoulder
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Elbow, Forearm and Wrist✔ Bicep tendinopathy ✔ Bicep tendon rupture ✔ Carpal instability ✔ Carpal tunnel syndrome ✔ Colles fracture ✔ Cubital tunnel syndrome ✔ Golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis) ✔ Guyon's canal syndrome ✔ Olecranon bursitis ✔ Pronator teres syndrome ✔ Radial head fracture ✔ Scaphoid fracture ✔ Smith's fracture ✔ Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) ✔ TFCC injury ✔ Tricep tendinopathy ✔ Ulnar nerve entrapment ✔ Wrist pain with sports
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Hand, Thumb and Fingers✔ De Quervain's syndrome ✔ Dupuytren's contracture ✔ Finger dislocation ✔ Flexor & extensor tendon injuries ✔ Hand arthritis ✔ Jersey finger ✔ Ligament sprain ✔ Mallet finger ✔ Metacarpal fracture ✔ Nerve pain ✔ Rheumatoid arthritis ✔ Skier's thumb ✔ Swan-neck deformity ✔ Thumb subluxation ✔ Trigger finger
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Hip and Thigh✔ Adductor strain & tendinopathy ✔ Clinical biomechanics of hip pain & ITBFS ✔ Femoral fracture ✔ Groin pain ✔ Hamstring strain/tear/rupture ✔ Hip dislocation rehab ✔ Hip impingement (FAI) ✔ Iliopsoas tendinopathy ✔ Iliotibial band syndrome ✔ Labral tear ✔ Piriformis syndrome ✔ Quad contusion ✔ Quad strain/tear/rupture ✔ Snapping hip syndrome ✔ Trochanteric bursitis & lateral hip pain
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Knee✔ Ankle fracture ✔ Achilles rupture ✔ Achilles tendinitis ✔ Achilles tendinopathy ✔ Ankle sprain ✔ Calf pain ✔ Compartment syndrome ✔ Gastroc strain ✔ Peroneal tendinopathy ✔ Peroneal tendon subluxation ✔ Peroneal tendonitis ✔ Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction ✔ Sever's disease ✔ Shin splints ✔ Sinus tarsi syndrome ✔ Tarsal tunnel syndrome ✔ Tibialis anterior dysfunction
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Ankle and Shin✔ Ankle fracture ✔ Achilles rupture ✔ Achilles tendinitis ✔ Achilles tendinopathy ✔ Ankle sprain ✔ Calf pain ✔ Compartment syndrome ✔ Gastroc strain ✔ Peroneal tendinopathy ✔ Peroneal tendon subluxation ✔ Peroneal tendonitis ✔ Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction ✔ Sever's disease ✔ Shin splints ✔ Sinus tarsi syndrome ✔ Tarsal tunnel syndrome ✔ Tibialis anterior dysfunction
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Foot✔ Arthritis ✔ Bunions ✔ Flat feet problems ✔ Foot fracture ✔ High arch problems ✔ Heel pain ✔ Hallux valgus ✔ Hallux rigidus ✔ Jones fracture ✔ Lisfranc injuries ✔ Metatarsalgia ✔ Metatarsal fracture ✔ Morton's neuroma ✔ Peripheral neuropathy ✔ Plantar fasciitis ✔ Retrocalcaneal bursitis ✔ Stress fracture ✔ Turf toe
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Other Conditions✔ Arthritic conditions ✔ Bone spurs ✔ Chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS) ✔ Compulsory Third Party Insurance (CTP) ✔ Core strengthening ✔ Fractures & casting ✔ Motor Vehicle Accidents Injuries (MVA) ✔ Nerve compression & nerve injuries ✔ Nerve radiculopathy & radicular nerve pain ✔ Osteochondritis dissecans ✔ Pelvic floor rehab ✔ Poor posture - analysis & correction ✔ Post-surgery rehab ✔ Repetitive strain injuries (RSI) ✔ Second opinion physio
Find answers to common questions about TMJ consultations, treatments, pain relief, and long-term management strategies