TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint and refers to the two joints that connect your jaw bone or mandible, to the temporal bone of your skull. When functioning normally these joints allow you to move your jaw, chew, and speak without jaw pain or limitation. Problems with the TMJ that lead to jaw pain are called TMD (temporomandibular dysfunction). TMD can be a painful and debilitating condition and can be difficult to resolve. But with a team approach involving your Physiotherapist and an experienced Dentist patients can successfully eliminate their symptoms.
Physiotherapy can be used to treat TMD by reducing pain and inflammation in the joint and improving the movement and function of your TMJ. As in other cases, physiotherapy treats TMD in a holistic manner: Looking at both the TMJ and the other surrounding body parts that are contributing to the problem.