At MedStar Health, the therapeutic team takes a “top to bottom” approach to TMJ treatment. Therapists look beyond the muscles in the face and jaw to determine the causes of TMJ and its troubling symptoms. Then they develop a plan of therapy to eliminate the condition—and to provide patients with tools to prevent its recurrence.
TMJ disorders affect millions of Americans. This joint connects the jawbones to the bottom of the skull and controls movement of the mouth involved in speaking, yawning, eating, and chewing. When the joint has been damaged, the result can be everything from headaches, dizziness, earaches, and back pain—to radiating pain in the arms.
Thorough patient evaluation
Because TMJ disorder can result from multiple conditions—arthritis, faulty dental work, stress, poor head posture, or trauma—therapists conduct a complete patient assessment before developing a treatment plan. The MedStar Health team obtains patients’ medical history, evaluates range of motion in the jaw and neck, and assesses their posture.
Then therapists will design a treatment plan to relieve pain, decrease inflammation that can occur with TMJ, and restore normal joint movement. The MedStar Health team also works closely with dentists, orthodontists, physician specialists, and psychologists in an interdisciplinary approach to treatment to help ensure long-term success.
Variety of therapeutic methods
The therapeutic plan will include a variety of methods to relax tightened facial muscles, realign the jaw, as well as the neck, back, legs, and feet in order to eliminate the muscle pain that can result from chronic TMJ. Among the innovative therapies used in TMJ disorder treatment are:
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Manual therapy, incorporating a variety of techniques
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Jaw relaxation, stretching and control exercises, such as Rocabado’s 6 x 6 program
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Referrals for dental splints and mouth guards to realign the jaw and prevent teeth grinding/clinching
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Electromyographic biofeedback for muscle relaxation and neuromuscular retraining
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Exercises to increase muscle strength and range of motion in the neck, shoulders, and back
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Emphasis is placed on postural re-education, ergonomics, stretching and strengthening programs and, when indicated, an evaluation and fitting for foot orthotics
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PENS (patterned electrical neuromuscular stimulation) for muscle re-education
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Heat packs, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation to increase blood flow and relax muscles
Our providers
Expert rehabilitation care
Getting the care you need starts with seeing one of our rehabilitation specialists.
Our locations
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MedStar Health: Physical Therapy at Irving Street – Neurorehabilitation Center
102 Irving St., NW MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital First Floor Washington, DC, 20010
MedStar Health: Physical Therapy at Federal Hill
1420 Key Hwy. Ste. 300 Baltimore, MD 21230
MedStar Health: Physical Therapy at Catonsville
3455 Wilkens Ave. Ste. 306 Baltimore, MD 21229
MedStar Health: Physical Therapy at Timonium
2118 Greenspring Dr. Ste. 200 Lutherville-Timonium, MD 21093
MedStar Health: Physical Therapy at Westminster
412 Malcolm Dr. Ste. 200 Westminster, MD 21157
MedStar Health: Physical Therapy at Ellicott City
9501 Old Annapolis Rd., Dorsey Hall Medical Center Ste. 125 Ellicott City, MD 21042
MedStar Health: Physical Therapy at Olney
18109 Prince Philip Dr. Ste. 155 & 355 Olney, MD 20832
NRH Rehabilitation Network at Wheaton
2730 University Blvd. W. Ste. 812 Wheaton, MD 20902
MedStar Health: Physical Therapy at Mitchellville
12158 Central Ave. Mitchellville, MD 20721
MedStar Health: Physical Therapy at Clinton
8926 Woodyard Rd. Ste. 501 Clinton, MD 20735
MedStar Health: Physical Therapy at Hollywood
24035 Three Notch Rd. Phillip J. Bean Medical Center Hollywood, MD 20636
MedStar Health: Physical Therapy at Ballston-Marymount
4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 120 Arlington, VA 22203
MedStar Health: Physical Therapy at Alexandria
6355 Walker Lane. Ste. 512 Alexandria, VA 22310