Physiotherapy
TMJ Symptoms & Treatment
TMJ, Headaches, and Whole-Body Physiotherapy Care
We help people with temporomandibular dysfunction (TMJ/TMD), migraines and headaches, tinnitus, neck and back pain (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine), and pelvic issues such as sacro-iliac joint dysfunction.
Our approach includes simple, targeted home exercises that teach you how to rebalance jaw muscle activity. With consistent practice, most patients can reduce muscle tension and significantly improve, or even eliminate, TMJ symptoms.
Experienced, Advanced TMJ and Pain Care
Our physiotherapy team brings decades of specialized experience treating TMJ disorders, headaches, migraines, tinnitus, and neck pain. Our therapists have advanced training in manipulative therapy to properly target the TMJ and associated structures, and they integrate this expertise into every treatment plan.
While we’re known for our TMJ and head-and-neck expertise, we also treat the whole body. If you’re dealing with lower back pain, sciatica, pelvic or abdominal pain, or discomfort in your arms or legs, we use advanced manual therapy techniques and personalized home exercises to help you restore full function and live without pain. To learn more, check out our TMJ Physio partner website.
Understanding TMJ Function and Dysfunction
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jawbone (mandible) to the temporal bone of your skull. It works like a hinge (rotation) and a sliding drawer (glide), allowing smooth opening and closing of the mouth. Muscles inside the mouth help close the jaw, while muscles under the jawline help open it. These sub-mandibular muscles also play a key role in posture, swallowing, and breathing.
One common cause of TMJ dysfunction is muscle imbalance triggered by forward head posture, cervical or thoracic spine issues, or chest-dominant breathing. Ongoing tension in the muscles under the jaw can cause the muscles inside the mouth to overwork in an attempt to compensate. This can lead to clenching, TMJ pain, or dental discomfort.
Over time, this internal muscle tension may gradually pull the joint’s articular disc forward. In some cases, this can result in anterior disc displacement, which may cause clicking, locking, or limited jaw movement. While most cases improve with conservative physiotherapy care, severe cases may require arthroscopic surgery to reposition the disc and restore full jaw motion.
If you are unsure of whether TMJ Physiotherapy will help with your symptoms and condition, we highly encourage you to contact our TMJ team. One of our specialised TMJ Physiotherapists will discuss your concerns with you, and help you determine whether this is the best course of treatment for you.