Jaw Pain and Dysfunction
The jaw is a very delicate joint in the human body and allows multi- directional movement . It is vital for our speech, breathing and eating. Jaw pain and dysfunction can greatly impact our daily lives. Physiotherapists are able to help you identify what is causing your symptoms and provide treatment to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
Common symptoms:
- Jaw pain on one or both sides
- Headache
- Jaw locking or clicking
- Sensitive teeth
- Difficulty chewing or speaking
- Difficulty opening the mouth wide
- Limited neck range of movement
- Asymmetrical jaw opening/closing
Potential causes:
- Trauma to the jaw area
- Clenching and/or grinding teeth (awake or asleep)
- Arthritis
- Hypermobility
- Cervical spine (neck) dysfunction
- Dental pathologies
Assessment:
Subjective assessment: We will ask you about your jaw pain, your general health and other potential factors that may contribute to your concerns. We will also ask you what activities you enjoy and the goal you may want to reach.
Objective assessment: We will look at how your jaw moves and palpate muscles around the jaw, either inside or outside your mouth. a. We will also assess your neck, shoulders and upper back to make sure we don’t miss any contributing factors..
Treatment:
- Education on your condition
- Activity / food modification to reduce symptoms
- Muscle and/or other soft tissue release
- Joint mobilization of the Jaw
- Stretching, range of motion and strengthening exercises
- Home exercise programme
- Dry needling
Plan:
From the moment we meet you, we are planning an individualised and holistic approach to help you reach your goal and be your best!
Rehabilitate, Educate, Innovate.
Providing excellence in physiotherapy from assessment to diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation