Do you suffer from jaw pain, headaches, painful chewing, or clicking and popping in your jaw? These could all be signs and symptoms of temporomandibular joint dysfunction, or TMD. The temporomandibular joint is essentially where your jaw meets your skull. It is one of the most complex joints in the body and can be affected by neck and head position, eating or chewing certain foods, habitual postures or positions, and direct trauma. It is also often associated with stress and poor sleep habits.
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DO YOU HAVE TMJ
PAIN? Discover Effective Relief
Newsletter Do you suffer from jaw pain, headaches, painful chewing, or clicking and popping in your jaw? These could all be signs and symptoms of temporomandibular joint dysfunction, or TMD. The temporomandibular joint is essentially where your jaw meets your skull. It is one of the most complex joints in the body and can be affected by neck and head position, eating or chewing certain foods, habitual postures or positions, and direct trauma. It is also often associated with stress and poor sleep habits. Grinding the teeth or clenching the jaw during sleep are also common causes of TMD and your dentist might be the first person to make you aware that you have this syndrome based on the wear pattern on your teeth. Other symptoms of TMD may include neck pain, ear ache or pressure, aching or tingling around the ear, face, or jaw, or even pain in the teeth. WHAT CAUSES TMJ SYNDROME? Multiple factors contribute to the muscle tightness and dysfunction that characterize this condition. Most often, poor posture and neck alignment change the pull of the muscles that make your jaw move. This causes painful grinding and irritation of the TMJ. Other causes may include:
DO YOU HAVE JAW, FACE OR EAR PAIN? IT COULD BE TMJ/TMD
A lot can be done to help TMJ, first starting with a thorough evaluation of your problem with our expert physical therapists. Once the root cause of your problem has been discovered, a comprehensive plan can be developed to quickly relieve your pain and restore natural movement to your TMJ. Furthermore, our physical therapists will teach you techniques for regaining normal jaw movement for long lasting results. The focus of physical therapy for TMD is relaxation, gentle movement and releasing tight muscles. In most cases, physical therapy can resolve TMD and rarely is surgery needed. WHY PHYSICAL THERAPY? Physical Therapy can help to: • Relieve headache, jaw and neck pain • Decrease inflammation • Restore normal joint/muscular movements • Correct posture • Increase range of motion • Poor alignment of or trauma to the teeth or jaw • Teeth grinding • Poor posture • Arthritis or other inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders • Excessive gum chewing • Stress
Patient Spotlight
1. Feel free to call us and ask to speak to your therapist. Has Your Pain ComeBack? 2. Your therapist can discuss with you why your pain is bothering you again and what you might do about it at home. 3. If further assessment is warranted, your therapist might recommend you come in for an appointment. Call To Talk to Your
“Best of all my therapy has dramatically improved my quality of life”
“VCSST was recommended to me by my Neuro Surgeon and he was spot on. Setting appointments, asking questions and getting answers was easy and painless. Best of all my therapy has dramatically improved my quality of life, the almost constant pain and sleepless nights have disappeared.” A.G.
Therapist Today (804) 249-8277
Refer a friend and if they mention your name while scheduling their initial appointment, you get a $10 gift card! Whodo youknowthat needs our help?
Do You Have Friends or Family Unable to Do The Following? 9 Move without pain 9 Bend and move freely 9 Balance confidently and securely 9 Sit for long periods comfortably 9 Walk for long distances 9 Live an active and healthy lifestyle
CALL TODAY (804)249-8277
Get relief for jaw, face and ear pain.
The goal is to make you better as quickly as possible. Our physical therapists will create a specific plan tailored to your particular case and timeline. Your participation is necessary for a good outcome. Clinical research shows that by following your specific treatment plan, you will get better faster, which translates to fewer visits, less costs and more time to do what you love. At Virginia Center for Spine & Sports Therapy, we help you reach your goal. SYMPTOMS OF TMJ • Pain or soreness in face, jaw, neck or around the ear • Clicking or popping of jaw when moving mouth • Locking of jaw • Pain with chewing food, talking, or general movement • Abnormal sensations and numbness of the jaw • Headaches • Limited jaw motion • Uncomfortable “off” bite • Deviation of jaw to one side
HELP FOR TMJ PAIN Your physical therapist will address the root cause of your pain such as poor jaw mobility, posture, weakness and decreased neck mobility. At Virginia Center for Spine & Sports Therapy, we will teach you one major exercise that will immediately unload the pressure from your TMJ which will lead to pain relief. Clinical research shows that by following your specific treatment plan, you will get better faster. This translates to fewer visits, less costs, and more time to do what you love!
When April flowers bring…aches and pains Formany, trimmingupbushes,plantingbulbsor seeds and weeding in the garden is therapeutic for the mind and soul. But extended sitting or repeated bending at the waist can cause stresses and strains on muscles and joints leaving a gardener quite sore the following day. This isparticularlytrueforanyonewhomayhave spent the winter a bit more sedentary. Tips to avoid gardening aches and pains injury when you are bending at the waist and reaching. • Always use cushioned kneeling pads and alternate being on both knees with one knee up. • Make use of a garden cart or wheelbarrow to move heavy planting materials or tools. Get help to move heavy bags.
• Pace yourself and don’t try to do everything in one day. Remember to enjoy the creative process. Gardening is supposed to be fun! When you have tried to do all of the above but find yourself with residual aches or pains that do not resolve within a few days, perhaps you have injuredyourself. Youcancallusandspeak to a therapist who can advise you.
• Warm up before you garden. A few brief stretchesorabriefwalkaregreatwarm-ups. • Change positions frequently to avoid stiffness or cramping. Periodically stand up straight and stretch. • Use long handled tools when possible to avoid being in a flexed position for long periods. The spine is most vulnerable to
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