Are you familiar with temporomandibular joint disorder, commonly known as TMD? It’s a condition that involves mobility impairment and/or inflammation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) that is located in your jaw. This condition can cause discomfort and limited range of motion within the jaw, making it difficult to bite or chew. It can also affect nearby muscles in the neck, head and shoulders. It’s usually caused by wear and tear, overuse, or injury to the joint. Research estimates that about 10 million people in the U.S. struggle with this disorder. Are you one of them? You might be wondering why you should consider seeing a physical therapist near you to treat your TMJ pain. You can learn more about the benefits of physical therapy treatment for TMD by reading below.
Why should I seek a physical therapist near me for my TMJ disorder?
Have you been struggling with your TMJ disorder symptoms? Is it hard to find relief from your symptoms on your own? You should consider starting physical therapy. Physical therapy can provide a number of different benefits to people who have TMJ disorder, including
- Better jaw and neck range of motion — One of the many reasons you should seek out a physical therapist near you to treat your TMJ disorder is because they can increase the range of motion in your jaw and neck. When the TMJ becomes inflamed, it can cause swelling and discomfort around the jaw and neck. This inflammation can lead a person to stop using the muscles in these areas to avoid causing further discomfort. With physical therapy, you can work to restore a comfortable range of motion in your jaw and neck.
- Increased strength around the jaw joints — Increased muscle strength can lighten the load that your jaw is bearing, decrease inflammation, and better protect your jaw joint. Physical therapists are experts in building muscle strength and can guide you through intentional exercise and movement to increase the capacity of your jaw muscles.
- Reduced jaw, neck, and head pain or discomfort — If you aren’t convinced that physical therapy treatment near you is the right choice for your TMJ pain, you should know that PT can reduce your pain and discomfort. Physical therapists have a supply of techniques and exercises that can reduce inflammation and build strength so you feel less pain in your jaw. They might use techniques like myofascial release, dry needling, and soft tissue manipulation to help you.
- More awareness of how to protect your TMJ — Another perk of finding a physical therapist near you to treat your TMJ disorder is that they can help you learn more about TMJ dysfunction. A physical therapist is someone who’s an expert on TMJ disorders. They can help you build greater awareness of how you can protect your joints.
- Reduced chances of injury to your TMJ in the future — A physical therapist can teach you what at-home treatments and movements you should perform to continue strengthening your joints. They can also teach you which movements you should avoid to prevent aggravating your TMJ disorder.
- Improved quality of life — One of the greatest benefits of seeking a physical therapist near you for your TMJ disorder is that a therapist can help improve the quality of your life. They can help you reduce inflammation, improve pain and build strength so that you can experience your best life.
Forever Fit Physical Therapy & Wellness can get you the treatment you need for your TMJ disorder
Our team at Forever Fit Physical Therapy & Wellness can offer you a unique and customized physical therapy experience. We value our patients so much that we strive to provide each one with a personalized treatment plan that caters to their individual lifestyles, habits and future goals. If you need help with your temporomandibular joint disorder pain, we can guide you through the treatment plan you need to start seeing relief. Our team will work toward effectively managing your condition and achieving the relief you’re looking for at any one of our several locations. We can help you perform the movements and exercises that will promote recovery and help prevent aggravating your temporomandibular joint.
During our physical therapy sessions, our physical therapists will guide you through your treatment with the utmost care and focus, making sure that you’re completing your exercises with efficiency and precision for the best possible results to your jaw joints.
Are you ready to take the first step using your jaw joints with less pain? Do you want to learn more about joint pain and how to find relief from it? Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.