Are you suffering from Upper Cross Syndrome or TMJ Disorder and you can’t find any relief? Look no further. Performance Spine and Sports Medicine will use an integrated approach to help treat your pain so you can live your life pain free, drug free, and surgery free.
From a physical therapist’s perspective, we can evaluate the source of the TMJ pain whether it is a postural, muscular or disc issue or a combination of these. All of these sources can be addressed with a physical therapy program, and each program is individualized to the patient. Any muscular issues would be addressed with hands on manual treatment including trigger point release and jaw mobilizations. Tightness in neck musculature may also contribute to TMJ pain so this area would also be addressed if needed. Another component of TMJ therapy is neuro reeducation of the jaw muscles to improve control of jaw opening and closing. This comes with a home exercise program for patients to work on throughout the day in order to make long term changes. Lastly, we address the postural issues that often accompany TMJ pain. Treatment for postural reeducation includes ergonomic assessments, kinesiotaping, postural muscle strengthening and core work.
Chiropractic can also be a very effective nonsurgical treatment for temporomandibular joint dysfunction. The chiropractor recognizes the relationship between the spine, jaw, skull and nervous system. Evaluation and correction of structural misalignment as well as addressing the myofascial trigger points in these areas leads to better temporomandibular joint function as well as pain relief. Gentle spinal adjustments are performed to the cervical and thoracic spine to improve segmental movement and alignment. Myofascial trigger point release technique is used in the jaw, skull and spine to relieve muscle tension.
Our medical doctors would take this approach after dental issues are ruled out and the patient has exhausted other options including rehab, manipulation, stretching techniques or using a mouth guard. The medical doctor will almost always get an MRI first and then they would then do a workup including ultrasound. Usually TMJ could be one of two types of problems, a nerve problem or a joint problem. If it is a nerve issue, the doctor could use injections from cortisone to Botox and/ or try acupuncture. If it is an unstable joint, the use of regenerative injections like prolotherapy or PRP to stem cells with ultrasound guidance can be used.
Here at PSSM we have the tools to help you break this pattern. We can help you eliminate the negative compensatory factors, teach you proper functional cues to improve the condition, teach proper ergonomics for activities of daily living that are contributing to the condition, rehabilitate the weak musculature in order to stabilize you from a postural standpoint, and reestablish your body’s optimal functional capacity in the correction of these conditions.Let Performance Spine and Sports Medicine help you get better faster and stay better longer!
