Poplar Shopping Centre, Riverclub, Johannesburg
Physiotherapy in TMJ related disorders
Jaw pain, clicking, locking and clenching are among the most common causes of facial pain — and physiotherapy is one of the main treatments for them. Angela K Jain has completed specialist training in temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and treats them in her private consulting rooms in Riverclub, Sandton.
TMJ and Physio
The temporomandibular joint connects your jaw to your skull, just in front of each ear. You use it every time you talk, chew, yawn or swallow, which makes it one of the busiest joints in the body. When the joint, the small disc inside it, or the chewing muscles around it stop working smoothly, the result is known as a temporomandibular disorder (TMD).
Common signs include pain in the jaw, face, temple or in front of the ear; clicking, popping or grating when you open your mouth; a jaw that locks, sticks or won't open fully; pain when chewing; and tired or tight jaw muscles, especially in the morning. Many people also notice headaches, neck pain, ear fullness or ringing that seem linked to their jaw.
The causes are usually a combination rather than one thing — clenching or grinding (often during sleep or under stress), neck and posture problems, mouth breathing, chewing on one side, previous injury including whiplash, and general joint hypermobility. Women are affected roughly twice as often as men.