TemporoMandibular Joint Dysfunction is a condition in which an unknown problem of the jaw causes pain, tightness, or click/popping in the joint or related muscles.
What is TMJD and the signs/symptoms associated with it
What can contribute to TMJD
Cupping therapy on jaw
Proprioceptive-Deep Tendon Reflex or P-DTR
P-DTR is a neurologic reflexogenic technique I utilize to find out why the body is the way it is. Sometimes muscles are tight as a way for the body to compensate for older issues it may no longer even need anymore. This requires us to help re-calibrate and process the dysfunctions to restore proper muscle tone and biomechanics of the jaw.
Locked or Hypertonic muscles
Often muscles can become locked which means even if you massage them all day they will just go back to feeling tight. When this happens the body is programming them to stay tight and overactive meaning massage therapy will only be temporary. For this reason we use P-DTR to figure out which muscles are locked and treat them. Sometimes other muscles can be weak/underactive which also give it a high tone feeling. We use visual and movement assessments to determine which are overwork and underworking.
Cervical Spine Alignment
Often the jaw just follows the upper cervical spine. If they are deviated or twisted we will see the jaw deviate to one side as it is opened. With palpation we can feel around the cervical spine and assess if they are playing a part into the pattern and what structures are creating this pull. After the treatment we will see the jaw mechanics and thus muscles change
Emotional Corrections
Many emotional responses can trigger or excite the jaw. This is heavily related to the release of epinephrine and nor-epinephrine. This can especially come out even worse in the evening when the subconscious tends to be more active. P-DTR has a way to assess and help clients process primitive and complex emotions related to past trauma, internal turmoil, or stressors.
Emotional Tip: If you suddenly notice you're clenching/grinding your jaw or feeling any changes take note of anything thoughts or stressors you may have been experiencing that day or minutes before as that can serve as a trigger.
Impact Dysfunctions
If you've ever had an impacts or blunt force trauma to the jaw then you may have chronic tightness around the joint as a way to protect the jaw in the future from any similar traumas. With P-DTR we can assess if this is the case and help relieve and create space in the joint.
Cranial Nerve V and VII: Trigeminal and Facial Nerve
While the muscles of the jaw and face are important to work on and assess these muscles are innervated by the Trigeminal Nerve and Fascial Nerve. When these become dysfunctional whether it be due to trauma or blocking it is important to make sure there is no nerve entrapment, work on re-calibrating any dysfunctions, and importantly strengthen the cranial nerve post correction.
P-DTR has assessments to test the cranial nerves and figure out what could be causing these issues.
Low Level Lasers or Photobiomodulation
Low Level lasers are a way to give your cells the resources they need to do their job and accelerate recovery. This would allow red blood cells, white blood cells, and osteocytes to help your body recovery more effectively.
The benefits of photobiomodulation can include:Com
Quicker healing of muscles, ligaments, tendons and bones
Increase circulation
Decrease inflammation
Reduce pain
Excite and stimulate the nerves
At Level Up I prefer to use this as a complimentary service and not solely rely on it to help with my clients problems. This is a great way to follow up any P-DTR corrections and soft tissue work to help the clients recover at an accelerated rate.
No perfect recipe for jaw treatment
There can be many things that go into creating a TMJ dysfunction. This can make treatment complicated which is why we do a thorough health history at the start of the session. By figuring out when your problems started and why we can work on what we believe will be the most important problems first and much like an onion unravel the layers.
Level Up offers a variety of treatment methods to make sure we can maize the results each session and make progress.
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