Treatment of TMJ Disorders

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A spate of clients have presented suffering from Tempero-Mandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder with chronically tight necks and jaws, grinding their teeth, and associated headaches. While medicos will say it is little understood, they are over thinking it...the tendency for the effects of emotional stress to inexorably creep up and overwhelm us is the cause of the bulk of our health issues. Leg length differences, mild scoliosis, poor posture and lack of exercise accounts for much of the rest. Of course, it is a complex and unique joint and some will have sustained injury or degeneration in the joint. Lastly, there is a dental aspect to the condition where poor bite can be an issue.

 

The approach I take is a combo of:

 

•  Initial assessment and treatment in the Remedial Therapy framework including addressing the effects of mild scoliosis encouraged by right leaning pelvic tilt from a structurally short right leg; 

• The direct physical method of an upper back, neck and shoulder massage treatment including the Shoulder Treatment Protocol, as well as, donning gloves and working directly on the TMJ; and,

•  Alternatively, a less direct means through Craniosacral Therapy to release fascial restrictions through cranium and spine.

 

Concepts that can be employed consist of:

 

•  Releasing holding patterns/blockages at the diaphragm, shoulders and hips with light

Fascial Release technique;

•  Directed meditative breathing exercise to release jaw and face;

•  Postural correction through Remedial Therapy assessment and treatment to optimise head carriage;

•  Extensive upper back, neck and shoulder massage treatment generally, and focused face and head massage;

•  Chinese Cupping and/or Gua Sha as required;

•  Craniosacral Therapy is the release of fascial restrictions through cranium, brain and spine removing impediments to energetic Qi flow and improving neural function. A soft, gentle meditative process achieves deeply penetrating release through the cranial sutures and all the bones of the face and head. The relaxation effect alone is highly therapeutic. I have heard first hand accounts that where all else failed, Craniosacral Therapy proved successful; and,

•  Don sterile gloves and work into the gum lines and muscles inside the mouth and jaw. This approach can be painful and invasive andis not always acceptable to clients.

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In relation to the effect of postural correction on the TMJ, I have treated a Short Right Leg Syndrome case and resolved chronic right sided TMJ pain. This client little affected in any other way by SRLS due to hypermobility through the major joints of the body, did have mild scoliosis with right convexity through the Thoracic due to pelvic tilt from the structural leg length discrepancy. We all have a short right leg, right leaning pelvic tilt and mild scoliosis. The most common presentation is with right convexity through the Thoracic. This elevates the right shoulder and places the head on a left leaning tilt. The slight tilt to the left generates constant low level strain through the right side of the neck and jaw. Left convexity does the opposite and results in a right leaning tilt. Trialling a 5mm heel lift under the right foot resolved the TMJ pain slowly and imperceptibly over a six month period. There is a biomechanical aspect to this outcome, as well as, improved energetic Qi flow through central Du and Ren meridian channels releasing tightness through the spine generally. Incrementally backing off distortion and strain through the pelvis releasing tightness clears blockage to Qi flow which warms and softens the tissues.