Temporomandibular physiotherapy offers many different treatment options for what is a very painful condition at worst or an inconvenient one at best.
While TMJ disorders are caused due to a variety of reasons, doctors generally avoid using any irreversible techniques to deal with them. Home therapies such as massage and exercise are often recommended as treatment for this condition.
However, they do not always work. However, many people find that physiotherapy gives them relief from their pain and lack of jaw mobility by increasing the flexibility and strength of jaw muscles whilst also reducing the scar tissue that is caused when the area is subjected to repeated injuries.
The most popular temporomandibular physiotherapy techniques include:
1. Physical therapy including massage to reduce muscle tension and increase strength of the jaw.
2. Use of mild electric current to interrupt pain signals which can thereby bring about muscle relaxation; the therapy is called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).
This treatment method can also improve blood circulation in the jaw. It is generally used when the pain is severe.
3. Ultrasound therapy which directs sound waves at high frequency to the affected area of the jaw. This helps to get rid of pain or at least to reduce its intensity. Ultrasound therapy can also bring down swelling in the jaw.
4. Heat therapy which can stimulate blood circulation to the jaw
5. Ice therapy which is helpful to reduce pain and bring down swelling
6. Posture correction in order to reduce tension in the jaw, neck and shoulder area. It is also necessary to correct the way in which one holds the jaw when in resting position. Certain postures put a lot of strain on the muscles of the shoulders and above and most people do not have enough self-awareness to avoid them.
Temporomandibular physiotherapy exercises should only be done under professional supervision or else the condition might become worse.
A trained physiotherapist will be able to recommend the right technique to be used in specific circumstances. It is important to remember the fact that like any treatment for TMJ problems, physiotherapy tends to give varying results depending on the combination of factors that are responsible for causing the problem.
The physiotherapist will also be able to ascertain whether the pain is caused by wrong alignment of the teeth, in which case the problem will have to be addressed by a dentist who has specialization in treating these ailments.
Acute TMJ syndrome can be a very painful condition. Find out about the different TMJ physiotherapy techniques that can bring relief to you.
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