Locked Jaw? Physical Therapy Can Help!

Symptoms usually include:

  • Jaw pain
  • Jaw fatigue
  • Trouble when one tries to open the mouth when eating or speaking
  • Locking the jaw
  • Dizziness
  • Ear ringing
  • Severe headaches
  • Jaw popping
  • Neck pain
  • Shoulder pain

Potential reasons for developing a TM disorder are actually a number of factors that play a role in the onset of TMD. They include:

  • Poor postural habits, like spending long hours in a seated position with your head bent over a computer, driving, texting and other activities
  • neck and jaw misalignment
  • ligament and muscle stretching that make you hold your head in the wrong position, leading to TMD.

Postural issues which affect jaw and neck muscles may also originate farther down that kinetic chain, in your chest, pelvis or shoulder blades.

Bruxism: Clenching and grinding your teeth, known as Bruxism, is considered to be prompted by stress. You may not know of the behavior, since it often happens during sleep.

Stress is commonly considered to be the one cause of Temporomandibular disorder.

Dental misalignment: Poor teeth position can affect the way you chew, which prompts TMD.

A dentist may help you correct the condition. However, dental misalignment is rarely the primary TMD reason.

Trauma: An accident or general jw related trauma leading to manifest as TMD, years after the injury.
Operation: invasive jaw or neck surgery can lead to consequences resulting in TMD and compromise the TMJ adequate mobility. The physical therapy and rehabilitation of the joint may become necessary.
Respirato TMD.

Facial muscle atrophy: Weak facial muscles may lead to jaw misalignment over time.
Tongue issues: Problems with your tongue can affect how you chew, which in turn affects your TMJ.
TMD medical verdict and ways to view your jaw range of motion.

TMD treatment strategies may include:

  • Exercises to realign the cervical spine
  • Exercises to correct whole body postural issues
  • Jaw alignment exercises
  • Manual disc alignment
  • Mouth and jaw massage
  • Manual therapy
  • Functional therapy for facial muscles
  • DNS (Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization)
  • ESWT (Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy)
  • Cold laser treatment
  • Dental intervention may be included as part of your treatment plan if to play a role with TMD. However, dental issues are rarely the true reason of TMD.

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) Treatment in NYC

If you suffer from chronic pain in your jaw joint, locking, popping or other symptoday, and resolve your TMJ so you can enjoy eating, talking and living without the pain and discomfort of TMD. Persistent lateral hip pain is a common complaint of women over age 50, with 23.5% reporting either unilateral or bilateral hip pain. Lateral hip pain occurs in women four times more often than in men.

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In this instance, an athlete was originally diagnosed with minor quadriceps muscle strain and was treated for four weeks, with unsatisfactory results. When he came to our clinic, the muscle was not healing, and the patients’ muscle tissue had already begun to atrophy.

Upon examination using MSUS, we discovered that he had a full muscle thickness tear that had been overlooked by his previous provider. To mitigate damage and promote healing, surgery should have been performed immediately after the injury occurred. Because of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, the patient now has permanent damage that cannot be corrected.

The most important advantage of Ultrasound over MRI imaging is its ability to zero in on the symptomatic region and obtain imaging, with active participation and feedback from the patient. Using dynamic MSUS, we can see what happens when patients contract their muscles, something that cannot be done with MRI. From a diagnostic perspective, this interaction is invaluable.

Dynamic ultrasonography examination demonstrating
the full thickness tear and already occurring muscle atrophy
due to misdiagnosis and not referring the patient
to proper diagnostic workup

Demonstration of how very small muscle defect is made and revealed
to be a complete tear with muscle contraction
under diagnostic sonography (not possible with MRI)

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Complete tear of rectus femoris
with large hematoma (blood)

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Separation of muscle ends due to tear elicited
on dynamic sonography examination

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