Exercise: TMJ Pain

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Good Morning!

 

Exercise: 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. An accident that results in trauma to the jaw can fracture

the bones of the joint or damage the disc, disrupting the alignment

or mechanics of the jaw and causing pain or forcing the jaw to lock

up.

 

Other causes of TMJ syndrome include a poor bite (malocclusion),

Orthodontic treatment, such as braces and the use of headgear or

arthritis in the joint may also result from injury. There is no

scientific proof that gum chewing causes clicking sounds in the

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.

 

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

which can exhaust the jaw muscles and lead to pain. Scientists are

exploring how behavioral, psychological and physical factors may

combine to cause TMJ syndrome. Stress, either mental or physical, may

aggravate 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.

 

 

Resistance Chewing

 

Place your fist under your chin.

 

Slowly open your mouth wide using your fist as resistance against the

chin as it opens.

 

Now, close your jaw slowly by pressing up on your chin and resist in

the opposite direction.

 

Repeat 12 times. Then repeat exercise again.

 

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

Peacefulmind.com

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