EXERCISE: TMJ Pain

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Good Morning!

 

TMJ Pain

 

Today, researchers generally agre that temporomandibular joint syndrome falls

into three main categories:

 

 

1. Myofascial pain, the most common form of TMJ syndrome, which is discomfort or

pain in the muscles that control jaw function and the neck and shoulder muscles.

 

2.Internal derangement of the joint, meaning a dislocated jaw or displaced disc,

or injury to the condyle;

 

 

3.Degenerative joint disease, such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis in

the jaw joint.

 

A person may have one or more of these conditions at the same time.

 

 

Severe injury to the jaw or temporomandibular joint can cause TMJ syndrome. A

heavy blow, for example, can fracture the bones of the joint or damage the disc,

disrupting the smooth motion of the jaw and causing pain or locking. Arthritis

in the jaw joint may also result from injury.

 

Other causes of TMJ syndrome are less clear. Some suggest, for example, that a

bad bite (malocclusion) can trigger TMJ syndrome, but recent research disputes

that view. Orthodontic treatment, such as braces and the use of headgear, has

also been blamed for some forms of TMJ syndrome, but studies now show that this

is unlikely.And there is no scientific proof that gum chewing causes clicking

sounds in the jaw joint, or that jaw clicking leads to serious TMJ problems. In

fact, jaw clicking is fairly common in the general population. If there are no

other symptoms, such as pain or locking, jaw clicking usually does not need

treatment.

 

Researchers believe that most people with clicking or popping in the jaw joint

likely have a displaced disc -- the soft, shock-absorbing disc is not in a

normal position. As long as the displaced disc causes no pain or problems with

jaw movement, no treatment is needed.Some experts suggest that stress, either

mental or physical, may cause or aggravate TMJ syndrome.

 

People with TMJ syndrome often clench or grind their teeth at night, which can

tire the jaw muscles and lead to pain. It is not clear, however, whether stress

is the cause of the clenching/grinding and subsequent jaw pain, or the result of

dealing with chronic jaw pain or dysfunction. Scientists are exploring how

behavioral, psychological and physical factors may combine to cause TMJ

syndrome.

 

 

Milking The Cow

 

The exercise so often referred to by chiropractors and craniosacral therapists

is Milking the cow.

 

Close your eyes.

 

Let the jaw relax and slightly open.

 

With index and middle fingers of both hands place them on both sides of the

sides of the ears at the cheek bone (zygomatic bone)

 

press down and pull the fingers down toward the corner of the jaw (angle of

mandible).

 

Repeat this stroking motion SLOWLY, 20-30 times.

 

This relaxes the jaw and can often " adjust " the positioning of the condylar

process of the mandible. Relieving tension in the jaw and face.

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk, LMT, MT-BC, CA

Peacefulmind.com

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