Treatment for TMJ pain

Treatments for TMJ disorder includes: splint therapy, analgesics, surgery, stress management, acupuncture, trigger point therapy, hydrotherapy and last but certainly not least, massage therapy.

Massage therapy has in fact become one of the most widely accepted solutions for treating TMJD patients because it has significantly fewer health risks than any other TMJD treatment. The Center of Health Research in Oregon reported that the majority of respondents who used various complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments, especially massage therapy, to treat their TMJD demonstrated major reduction or elimination of pain and tension within their jaw muscles as well as an overall improvement in the jaw joint mobility.

When treating TMJD, a massage therapist should first assess the muscle and facial asymmetries of the patient in order to work on reducing the tension of the masticator (chewing muscles) to eliminate trigger points or “knots” in the muscle fascia surrounding the jaw area. Various massage techniques can provide holistic and effective treatment for TMJD. A knowledgeable therapist who understands musculoskeletal disorders can facilitate a customized therapy to address a client’s special needs.

https://www.sochi.edu/blog/treat-tmd-tmjd-patients-with-massage-therapy.html