Physical Therapy in Farmingdale

Suffering from jaw pain? Do you constantly grind your teeth? Have pain associated with your ears or face? If so, there’s a good chance you might have TMJ.  Short for temporomandibular joint, TMJ affects roughly 15% of adults, those ages 20 to 40 being the most susceptible.

At Farmingdale Physical Therapy East, a leading physical therapist in Farmingdale,  we know how painful this debilitating condition can be. With the education and health of our patients being our two biggest concerns, here’s a summary of everything you need to know about TMJ.

So What Actually Is It?

A disorder of your jaw muscles, it’s your temporomandibular joint that takes center stage with this condition. Located on both sides of your face, the joint acts as a sliding hinge between your jawbone and skull. Allowing your jaw to move side to side, up and down, and back and forth, once your joint becomes misaligned or isn’t moving as well, problems can accentuate.

Symptoms

If you experience any of the following, there’s a chance you might have TMJ.

• Swelling of your face

• Discomfort in one or both sides of your jaw joints

• Earaches

• Painful when you chew

• Jaw muscles become stiff

• Teeth don’t seem to be aligned

For TMJ relief, contact us today for a physical therapist in Farmingdale.

Causes

In terms of possible causes, the most notable are the following.

• Physical injury, especially to your jaw

• Constant grinding of your teeth

• Misalignment of your jaw and/ or teeth

• Arthritis

Treatment

Seeing a physical therapist is recommended as your doctor can come up with a personalized recovery plan. Some options include the following.

• Jaw exercises designed to strengthen your muscles, improve flexibility, and increase your range of motion

• Heat therapy which improves blood circulation

• Ice therapy that decreases swelling and relieves pain

• Massages

• Working on improving posture

• Ultrasound

• Electrical nerve stimulation

Interested in finding out more or looking for a physical therapist in Farmingdale? Our experienced and knowledgeable team would love to help! Contact us today!