Your jaw is connected to your skull by the temporomandibular joint. When this joint is harmed or injured, it can lead to TMJ dysfunction. This issue can cause your jaw and the muscles around it to become painful and stiff. Since the joint involves bones, tendons, and muscles, you might experience pain on one or both sides of your jaw, making activities like opening your mouth, speaking, yawning, and chewing quite challenging.
Struggling to chew, yawn, or hearing a click in your jaw? These could be signs of TMJ issues. Book a visit with Stride Physical Therapy for effective treatments to ease your jaw discomfort.
How can I tell if I have TMJ Dysfunction?
Diagnosing TMJ dysfunction doesn't have a one-size-fits-all solution. If you suspect you have TMJ issues, your doctor will look over your medical history and examine you. They might also refer you to a specialist like an ENT (ear, nose, and throat doctor) or a dentist who focuses on jaw problems.
Before diagnosing TMJ dysfunction, it's important to exclude conditions with similar symptoms, such as trigeminal neuralgia, salivary gland problems, or swollen lymph nodes. After confirming your diagnosis, your treatment will be tailored to your specific symptoms.
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If you have TMJ dysfunction, you might experience jaw pain, a popping sensation when you move your jaw, headaches, tender jaw muscles, your jaw getting stuck, temple pain, and ear pain. Common causes are teeth misalignment, constant chewing gum, arthritis, grinding teeth, or a jaw injury.
How will physical therapy help with my TMJ Dysfunction?
Home treatments like painkillers (Ibuprofen, Aspirin) and ice packs might ease TMJ pain. Sedative oils like clary sage or lavender could offer short-term comfort. If these don't help long-term, stronger options like muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatories, dental splints to stop grinding, acupuncture or even surgery may be needed.
For a natural method to treat TMJ dysfunction, consider physical therapy as a highly effective option. When you visit Stride Physical Therapy, we'll thoroughly examine your neck, shoulders, and upper back to see if they're linked to your discomfort. Our experienced Freehold, NJ physical therapists will then tailor a treatment plan to address your unique symptoms and requirements.
Our physical therapist will assess your jaw movement and ease tension in your neck and head muscles. Physical therapy aims to improve jaw function and muscle-joint coordination. Your personalized treatment may include jaw exercises, massage, joint movement techniques, myofascial release, electric therapy, or ultrasound.
Contact Stride Physical Therapy for relief:
Our caring physical therapists focus on you and your wellness, striving to alleviate your symptoms. If you're in Freehold, NJ and struggling with TMJ dysfunction, book an appointment at Stride Physical Therapy Freehold, NJ. Say goodbye to jaw pain and stiffness.
MEET YOUR RECOVERY TEAM
Kanwal Bhardwaj
PT, M.Sc.PT, CIMT, CMNT
Meet Kanwal Bhardwaj, PT, M.Sc.PT, CIMT, CMNT, the driving force behind Stride Physical Therapy in Freehold, NJ. With over 20 years of dedicated experience in the field, Kanwal brings a wealth of expertise and a passion for holistic healing to his practice. Kanwal's journey began with a Master of Science in Orthopedic Physical Therapy from Quinnipiac University in 2004. Over the years, he honed his skills and gained invaluable insights during 18 years of service in outpatient physical therapy offices. In 2014, fueled by a desire to deepen his understanding of patient care, he pursued a manual therapy certification (CIMT). This transformative experience allowed him to adopt a whole-body perspective, focusing on treating the root cause rather than just the symptoms...
At Stride Physical Therapy, we're dedicated to transforming lives. With a focus on the root cause of your condition, we're here to help you regain mobility and embrace an active lifestyle. What sets us apart? Our genuine passion for what we do. Let's stride towards a brighter tomorrow together.
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Take one step closer to a pain-free life with Stride Physical Therapy! Discover medication and surgery-free solutions with our sessions.
Health Blog
Find Relief for Your Hip and Knee Pain with Physical Therapy
Finding it tough to walk without a limp? Worried that your days of being active are over? Are hip and knee pains making every move unbearable? If hip or knee discomfort is wreaking havoc on your daily life and you're seeking relief without turning to medications or surgeries, there's an alternative.
Physical therapy offers a non-invasive way to lessen the pain in your hips and knees, enhancing the performance of these essential joints. Get in touch with Stride Physical Therapy in Freehold, NJ, today to discover how we can assist you in getting back on your feet!
How Physical Therapy Eases Hip and Knee Pain
Once we pinpoint the cause of your hip or knee pain, our physical therapist can recommend strategies to help ease your pain and get you moving comfortably again. We might start with passive exercises where we help move your joint to increase its range of motion without pain. Exercises that ease the load on your joints are also beneficial. For example, swimming or water activity lessens the stress on your hips and knees as they don't have to carry your full weight.
We'll also suggest exercises to tackle your hip or knee pain and improve joint health. Strengthening exercises bolster the muscles and tissues stabilizing your joint, and corrective movements and neuromuscular training teach you how to keep your posture aligned and balanced.
Beyond exercises, our physical therapy includes treatments like heat, ice, and massage to help manage pain and accelerate healing.
Common Causes of Hip and Knee Pain
Hip and knee pain can be caused by a variety of problems. Some of these are related to musculoskeletal misalignment, poor posture, and/or excess weight; others occur as the result of natural aging or unhealthy sports/work habits. Your hip or knee pain may stem from:
Traumatic injuries, such as dislocation of the joint
Postural/alignment issues that throw your body off balance, straining the knees or hips
Runner’s knee, an instability of the kneecap
Osteoarthritis, a painful inflammatory condition involving deteriorated joint cartilage
Tendinitis, or stretched ligaments
Bursitis, an inflammation of the friction-reducing sacs surrounding the joints
Infections
Our physical therapist can often determine the cause of your hip or knee pain from its location. For example, pain along the inside of the hip is more likely to be caused by a problem with the bones or cartilage. Pain along the outer side is typically caused by a problem in the muscles, tendons, or ligaments.
Why Did My Hip and/or Knee Pain Develop?
Your hips and knees play vital roles – the hips support your upper body's weight and your knees support the weight of your body above them. They need to be flexible for activities like walking and running, but this can lead to ongoing hip or knee pain. Pain in these areas can arise slowly from regular wear and tear, or quickly and sharply if you get injured.
Relieve Your Hip and Knee Pain Today
Are you ready to reclaim your pain-free mobility through physical therapy? Contact Stride Physical Therapy in Freehold, NJ, for an appointment! Our dedicated team is here to help you find relief and improve your quality of life.
