Pain in the temporomandibular joint, which is the point that connects your lower jaw to your skull on both sides of your head, and pain in the muscles that control jaw movement.
The temporomandibular (tem-puh-roe-man-DIB-u-lur) joint (TMJ) acts like a sliding hinge, connecting your jawbone to your skull. You have one joint on either side of your jaw. TMJ disorders can cause pain in your jaw joint and in the muscles that control jaw movement.
Signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders may include:
TMJ disorders can also cause a clicking sound or grating sensation when you open your mouth or chew.
The temporomandibular joint combines a hinge action with sliding motions. The parts of the bones that interact in the joint are covered with cartilage and are separated by a small shock-absorbing disk, which normally keeps the movement smooth.
Painful TMJ disorders can occur if:
In many cases, however, the cause of TMJ disorders isn’t clear.
Seek medical attention if you have persistent pain or tenderness in your jaw, or if you can’t open or close your jaw completely.
Factors that may increase the risk of developing TMJ disorders include:
There are several things you can do to prevent the TMJ pain you’re experiencing. They are:
Your physiotherapist will conduct a thorough Jaw assessment during your appointment. We may choose to prescribe the following exercise or treatment based on your assessment outcome.
Surprised that Physio can help with TMJ Pain? Wondering what else we treat? Take a look at our Physiotherapy Treatments page – you may be surprised at the range of ailments that can be treated with Physio.
As defined by the Western Australian Department of Health, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a disorder…
Or… How to Put Your Undies on Without Sitting Down We talk a lot about…
Welcome to the world of sports tape, where choices abound, and injuries meet their match! …
Have you ever experienced a sharp pain in your shoulder after a fall or impact?…
Calf strains are a common injury. So, whether you’re experiencing dull aching pain during or…
The Cancer Council of Australia defines prostate cancer as when abnormal cells develop in the…