If you are suffering from TMJ pain, you may not want to deal with injections or other invasive forms of care. As a result, many have turned to chiropractic, and with good reason. There is growing evidence that chiropractic can help TMJ dysfunction. We’re going to look at some of this evidence and then discuss a specialty within the chiropractic field that can have positive effects on jaw pain.
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TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint. TMJ dysfunction includes a series of medical issues that affect the jaw joints and the surrounding tissue. As a result, a person may feel pain in the jaw that radiates toward both the ears and the neck. Pain may occur in the face while speaking, chewing, or making certain expressions. It may also affect the range of movement of the jaw. Some patients experience a popping or clicking sound when using the TMJ.
The study noted above involved nine patients who were adjusted using chiropractic instruments. The findings revealed that the patient symptoms had improved. This makes sense because misalignments of the spine can affect the nerves and soft tissue of the body. In particular, the top bones of the spine are in close proximity to the TMJ.
Upper cervical chiropractors focus on these top two bones of the spine. When they are gently realigned using a low force correction, the surrounding nerves and soft tissue can have an opportunity to heal. While some upper cervical chiropractors use instruments such as those in the study, others use a more hands-on approach. But adjustments are always gentle, rather than the popping and twisting involved in general chiropractic.
If you are experiencing TMJ dysfunction, especially if you have a history of head or neck trauma, an upper cervical chiropractor may be able to help. Schedule a consultation with a practitioner near you to learn more.
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TV show host Montel Williams describes how specific chiropractic care has helped his body.
The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.
