Treatment of TMJ can involve multiple phases depending upon the location and extent of the pain and the position of the jaw bone. The treatment plan described below will help relieve jaw pain as well as pain in the head, neck, face, and back. Complete relief may take up to six to nine months for patients with a well advanced, comprehensive condition. Initially, you are seen two to three times each week. After six to eight weeks, therapy sessions are conducted less frequently and are used to develop and adjust home programs as needed. Not all patients will need the full treatment plan.
Pain Reduction: This phase can take up to four weeks. The therapist will use different hands-on techniques such as soft tissue massage and gentle joint movement. Phototherapy may also be used in this phase. This treatment combines lasers and light to help cells return to normal function, which reduces pain and permits muscles to relax. Repair Phase: This phase restores posture and mobilizes the jaw to achieve a normal relationship between the skull, the disc, and the jawbone. Treatment to improve posture includes muscle energy techniques that properly align the spine, joint mobilization between the spine and rib cage to restore mobility, muscle stretching, and home exercises.Stabilization Phase: This final stage of treatment provides exercises to strengthen and stabilize the body to better support its corrected posture. The therapist also provides exercises that further stabilize the disc on the jawbone. All of this helps to achieve the initial goal of finding the proper state of rest for the jaw.