TMJ Physiotherapy

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders can cause jaw pain, headaches, and difficulty with everyday activities like eating and speaking. Our TMJ treatments focus on relieving pain, restoring mobility, and improving jaw function.

Did you know physios can treat the jaw? Do you grind or clench your teeth? Maybe you don’t even realise you clench your teeth in your sleep. Some of the indicators that you may do this are: 

  • waking up with a headache or sore ear/cheek.

  • tooth pain but the dentist cannot find anything wrong.

  • blocked ear but no sign of infection.

  • frequent headaches. 

The most common type of headache is a tension type of headache followed by a cervicogenic (arising from the neck) and migraines. 

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is also another region that can contribute to a headache. For e.g., in people who chronically clench their teeth (bruxism) or tooth grind. Studies have shown that 80% of young adults grind their teeth during the deeper stages of their sleep.

A cervicogenic headache starts in the neck or at the base
of the skull to up and around the eye and is usually on one side of the head. Whereas a tension type of headache presents on both sides along with a tight pressure feeling around the head.

Migraines tend to initiate in the forehead and usually have a pulsing quality. They are usually on one side of the head but can alternate between episodes. There may be accompanied with sensitivity to light and sound, aura,
and nausea. 

The good news is physiotherapy can help! A specific assessment is performed to identify the type of
headache and the extent the musculoskeletal system is contributing to it. All factors are taken into consideration, such as posture, TMJ, stress, dietary influences, and hormonal changes. 

Once the above is established a combination of hands-on therapy and posturally specific exercise program is prescribed. Tips and advice regarding modifying or avoiding triggers is provided and in regard to the TMJ (Jaw) a more detailed assessment and specific gentle jaw exercises are given. 

You may also be referred to a dentist or GP if there are underlying factors that are yet to be addressed.

Our Three Step Approach

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Step 1: Assessment & Diagnosis

Your initial 1-hour consultation will include a detailed assessment followed by a thorough explanation of your condition, expected time frames and patient driven goal setting.

✔ Identify underlying causes of pain and dysfunction
✔ Assess movement patterns, strength, and flexibility
✔ Establish realistic recovery goals tailored to your needs
✔ Utilising Real-Time Ultrasound and EMG Biofeedback

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Step 2: Personalised Treatment Plan

Once we’ve determined the source of your pain, we create an evidence-based treatment approach with functional and long-term results as our aim. Your treatment may include:

✔ Manual Therapy & Massage: Techniques such as deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy, and joint mobilisations to ease muscle tension and improve mobility.
✔ Exercise Prescription: Targeted strengthening, mobility, and stability exercises to correct imbalances and prevent reinjury.
✔ Dry Needling & Taping: Used to release muscle tension and support healing.

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Step 3: Ongoing Support & Prevention

Our focus isn’t just on recovery—it’s about long-term injury prevention and performance improvement. We equip you with the tools and knowledge to maintain your progress, including:

✔ Progressive rehabilitation programs to keep you moving pain-free
✔ Home exercise plans designed for easy integration into your daily routine
✔ Ongoing assessments to monitor improvement and adjust treatment as needed
✔ Preventative strategies to reduce the risk of future injuries

Expert Care for a Range of Conditions

Our physiotherapists are highly trained in treating various conditions, including:

Chronic Pain & Rehabilitation

Manage conditions like sciatica, frozen shoulder, carpal tunnel syndrome, and fibromyalgia.

Injury Prevention

We help you build resilience with corrective exercises, movement retraining, and functional rehabilitation plans.

Sports Injury Recovery

We offer sports physiotherapy, trigger point therapy, and rehabilitation programs to get you back in action.

Back & Neck Pain Relief

Alleviate discomfort with targeted manual therapy, deep tissue massage, and postural correction exercises.

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It's never too early or too late, to be the healthiest you.