TMJ Massage
Do I have TMJ?
Temporomandibular joint disorders or TMD is more commonly referred to as simply TMJ after the joint itself. This is the joint that connects your mandible, or lower jaw, to your skull just under your ears. Problems with this joint or the muscles in the face can lead to pain in this area. An injury that affects the lower jaw, such as whiplash, can be one cause as well as grinding of the teeth, the soft cushion in the joint moving, arthritis, or stress.
The major symptoms of TMJ include:
* Jaw pain or stiffness
* Difficulty or discomfort while chewing
* Popping, clicking, or grating sounds with jaw movement, which may or may not be painful
* Locking of the jaw that makes it difficult to open or close the mouth
People may also experience symptoms that appear to be totally unrelated to the jaw, but are actually related. These symptoms can include:
* TMJ headaches (over the eye, in the temples, behind the eyes, and at the base of the skull)
* Facial pain and swelling
* TMJ ear pain and other symptoms, including ringing, buzzing, and congestion
* Neck and shoulder pain
* Difficulty opening the mouth wide
* Tired facial muscles
* Trouble chewing or pain while chewing
* Top and bottom teeth not fitting together properly
While you may experience multiple signs or symptoms of TMJ, it's not uncommon to exhibit a single symptom like earache or headaches.
Do I have TMJ headaches?
Many TMJ sufferers will experience headaches. If you clench or grind your jaw, an overactive temporalis muscle may give rise to pain and tension, particularly in the temples. This headache can also radiate outwards and give rise to a sensation that can feel like your head being held in a ''vice-like grip''.
You may also experience a dull, achy, throbbing headache that's present on waking in the morning or that increases as the day progresses.
Likewise, TMJ pain can be a trigger for migraines. It may also lead to chronic headaches in a patient with a prior history of migraines or headaches. Migraine headaches will often radiate to the face, jaw, and even the teeth. These headaches are characterized by hypersensitivity to light, sound and smells. Generally these patients will go to a quiet dark room and prefer to sleep. There may be associated nausea and even vomiting.
What causes TMJ disorders?
TMJ disorders may relate to:
* Tooth clenching and grinding, known as bruxism
* Head and neck muscle tension, often stress-related
* Jaw injuries or trauma
* Joint diseases, like arthritis
How do TMJ massages help?
Massage is a great solution for a number of problems. It can be relaxing and help reduce stress. It can work the kinks out of painful muscles. Every part of an appointment with a massage therapist is designed to provide a restorative experience.
Massage therapy works by targeting trigger points along the body. These are what we often refer to as knots when we are experiencing aches and pains. By putting pressure on these points it can relieve the pain the patient is experiencing.
For jaw pain, the targeted muscle is called the masseter muscle. It is the muscle that you use primarily for chewing that is located on the sides of your face. When it is tight, from stress or injury, it can contribute to TMJ pain as well as the grinding of teeth. Releasing the tension in this muscle with a TMJ can be one of the remedies to help alleviate these problems.
How does TMJ/intraoral massage work specifically?
Simply put, intraoral massage therapy works (over a period of time) to alleviate tension, and sometimes pain in the facial area and around the jaw.
Although a therapist works on the facial muscles in an effort to alleviate tension in TMJ trigger points, most therapists also incorporate intraoral techniques: massages performed within the mouth itself, in order to adequately reach all of the muscles and areas that factor into TMJ pain and dysfunction.
What to Expect During Intraoral Massage for TMJ Dysfunction.
ASSESSMENT
Your therapist will need to assess your jaw area first to help determine the cause of dysfunction and understand the full picture of symptoms.
This may include asking questions and measuring your ability to open your mouth. Once on the massage table, the therapist may palpate (feel out) the joint while you open and close your mouth so they can best understand what's happening in the joint during movement.
DURING TREATMENT
This type of treatment is done with you lying supine (face up, on your back) on the table. If the therapist determines it would be beneficial during the assessment, they may also do some treatment on the neck and shoulders as tension in these areas can contribute to TMJ dysfunction.
The therapist will begin the treatment on your face and jaw/TMJ area and may extend to under the cheekbones, over the sinuses, and the temple/hairline area.
The jaw and inside of the mouth, including in and around the gums, can be quite tender to treat (as you can imagine!), but incorporating intraoral massage can greatly increase the effectiveness, as compared to the treatment of the same muscles outside the mouth.
> A feeling of spaciousness
This is one of the goals your therapist has for you - to provide you with a sense of space, freedom, or openness in the jaw. You can truly say, “AHHHHH!!”
> Emotional releases
Almost every massage therapist, and probably every myofascial release therapist, has experienced it - for themselves, as well as with clients on their table.
It usually goes something like this... while working with a patient you find an area that feels sort of “stuck”. So, you begin working more deeply into it.
Then, the client has an emotional release.
