TMJ Therapy

TMJ Massage Therapy

What does TMJ mean? 

The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) is the small joint that connects the mandible (lower jaw) to the temporal bone (at the side and base of the skull). Located just in front of the ear, these two TMJ together are arguably the busiest joints in the entire body—think of all the breathing, talking, yawning, biting into food, chewing, and swallowing that we do! 

What is TMJD? 

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction/Disorder is an umbrella term covering pain and dysfunction of the muscles of mastication (chewing) and the joints' action. 

Specific to these, likely the most important feature is pain, followed by signs such as difficulty opening the jaw wide, fatigue or discomfort while biting into or chewing food, a temporary locking of the jaw in either open or closed position, malocclusion (where the upper and lower teeth do not meet together correctly), and noises (such as crunching, clicking, cracking, and popping) from the TMJ during its movement. 

Things like overuse (with talking, singing, heavy or repetitive chewing), bruxism (grinding or clenching of the teeth), stress, posture, sleeping position, and embouchure (i.e., the way a musician applies their mouth to the mouthpiece of a brass or woodwind instrument) are all examples of what can affect the TMJ. 

TMJD can also be secondary to symptoms such as neck and shoulder stiffness and pain, headaches, eye strain, hearing challenges such as tinnitus, and sinus pain. 

So, What is TMJ Massage Therapy? 

TMJ massage therapy can assist with dysfunctions associated with the TMJ and address other signs and symptoms related to but which do not necessarily cause dysfunction. Whether trauma-induced (e.g., whiplash from a motor vehicle accident, a collision or fall during sports, or a slip-and-fall) or due to stress and overuse (as noted above), TMJ massage therapy can be quite beneficial to restoring proper and pain-free jaw function. 

Your TMJ massage therapist will interview and assess you before creating a treatment plan specific to your needs. Although the focus may be on the joints and muscles of mastication, your massage therapist will likely also address tension in other areas, such as your back, shoulders, and neck, all of which may contribute to or result from the symptoms you’re experiencing. Following assessment and based on your needs, the stages of treatment will be outlined. 

TMJ care is often a team effort between you and your therapist, and good communication and feedback are essential while receiving care. TMJ massage therapy generally starts with treatment extra-orally (outside the mouth), and progresses as needed to intraoral (inside the mouth) work in stages. This is important so as not to over-treat or overwhelm this small region and, of course, to be pain-free.