Temporomandibular Joint and Muscle (TMJ) Therapy

Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders (TMJ) refer to a range of conditions affecting the jaw muscles and the jaw joints. These disorders can lead to discomfort and pain around the mouth, jaw, neck, and ears. At Ivy Rehab, we provide specialized TMJ therapy aimed at relieving jaw pain, improving jaw movement, and restoring normal function.

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Ivy Rehab / Therapy Services / Physical Therapy / TMJ

How TMJ treatment works.

TMJ disorders affect the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connects the lower jaw (mandible) to the skull. This joint plays a crucial role in jaw movement, such as chewing, speaking, and yawning. When this joint or the surrounding muscles are strained or misaligned, it can lead to pain, discomfort, and a reduction in your quality of life.

While TMJ conditions are often not considered serious, they can cause long-lasting symptoms that affect everyday activities. Our physical therapists at Ivy Rehab are trained in TMJ therapy to help manage these symptoms and improve jaw function.

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Symptoms of TMJ Dysfunction

TMJ disorders can manifest in a variety of symptoms, affecting the jaw muscles and surrounding tissues. Common symptoms of TMD (temporomandibular disorders) include:

  • Pain in and around the jaw area
  • Clicking or popping sounds in the jaw when opening or closing the mouth
  • Headaches, especially around the temples
  • Locking of the jaw (difficulty opening or closing the mouth)
  • Jaw tightness or discomfort while chewing or speaking
  • Neck or cervical discomfort due to poor jaw alignment

These symptoms can range from mild to severe and can significantly impact daily activities. If you’re experiencing any of these issues, TMJ therapy can help you find relief.

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How Ivy Rehab Treats TMJ Disorders

Our TMJ treatment plan involves a combination of techniques designed to reduce jaw pain, improve jaw movement, and relieve tension in the surrounding muscles. We utilize a personalized approach to ensure the most effective treatment for each patient’s needs.

Neuromuscular Re-Education

  • This therapy helps restore normal jaw movement by retraining the muscles around the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) to function correctly and relieve jaw tension.

Manual Techniques

  • We use manual therapy to help reduce pain and improve mobility in the jaw joint. Techniques like soft tissue mobilization can help relieve muscle tightness and improve overall function.

Ultrasound, Electric Stimulation, and Heat/Ice Treatment

  • These modalities are used to reduce inflammation, improve blood circulation, and relieve pain. Heat and ice can be applied to reduce swelling, while electric stimulation can promote muscle relaxation and alleviate jaw discomfort.

Jaw Exercises

  • Jaw exercises are a key part of your treatment plan. They help strengthen the muscles surrounding the jaw, improving posture and movement. These exercises can help alleviate symptoms of TMD and prevent future jaw issues.
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FAQs

How long does TMJ therapy take to work?

The length of time to see results from TMJ therapy varies based on the severity of your condition. Many patients begin to feel relief within a few sessions, while others may need several weeks of treatment. Our physical therapists will tailor a treatment plan to help you achieve the best results in the shortest time possible.

Is TMJ therapy safe for all patients?

Yes, TMJ therapy is safe for most patients, including those with chronic jaw pain, muscle tension, or jaw mobility issues. Your physical therapist will evaluate your symptoms and develop a treatment plan that is appropriate for your specific needs.

What is TMJ dysfunction?

TMJ dysfunction (also known as TMD) refers to a disorder of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connects the jaw to the skull. It can cause pain, discomfort, and issues with jaw movement, often resulting in symptoms like jaw pain, headaches, and jaw clicking.

Get Started with TMJ Therapy at Ivy Rehab

Relieving jaw pain and improving function takes time and specialized care. At Ivy Rehab, we provide compassionate TMJ therapy to help individuals reduce jaw discomfort, improve jaw movement, and relieve muscle tension. Our skilled therapists work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan to address your symptoms and help you regain comfort and function in daily activities.

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Check out some of our 4 and 5 star reviews

Excellent4.8★★★★★ review us on ★★★★★ I had an outstanding experience with Connie Darrow and all of the staff at Ivy Rehab Princeton. I had a totally personalized routine and as my therapist learned about more of my future goals (biking, skiing, etc.) she adapted my program to help prepare me for them. Front office staff were also excellent, very flexible with scheduling, and great communicators when there were issues with local traffic or illnesses. I will definitely be going back if I need more PT in the future!Response from the ownerIt’s great to hear this feedback! Thank you for taking the time to share your review! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy, Princeton ★★★★★ Our son has received OT and Speech for years, but a little over a year ago we started services at Ivy in Canton. He has had so much progress at Ivy, adding several new foods (huge improvement!) and improving his fine motor skills. His speech has skyrocketed since starting at Ivy with new words, varying sentence structures, and much clearer speech. We are so glad we made the switch to Ivy Rehab in.Canton!Response from the ownerThank you so much for your positive feedback, it means the world to us! – The team at Ivy Rehab for Kids, Canton ★★★★★ Personalized care with consistently excellent results. The entire staff is caring and supportive of patients needs, big and small. So happy to be part of the Excel family.Response from the ownerThank you so much for your positive feedback, it means the world to us! – The team at Excel Physical Therapy – West Deptford – 1007 Mantua Pke ★★★★★ AK and Yaya are the best! They understand my pain issues and take the time to explain what is happening and what I can do daily to keep my legs working! And best of all they helped accommodate my crazy schedule so I can get my sessions in.Response from the ownerThank you for the great review, we really appreciate it! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy, Naperville ★★★★★ I received excellent care! Jonathan is a highly skilled and experienced practitioner. The office is easy to work with to obtain outside records and make appointments.Response from the ownerThank you for taking the time to share this review, it means so much! – The team at Excel Physical Therapy – Westfield – East Broad St ★★★★★ We are more than thrilled with our OT and feeding therapist Becky Meeks, she has worked miracles with our son Agni Musipatla. She is the one and only. Agni can suck from a straw after 19 years and she is working on getting him to chew and I am sure he will do it with her help soon🙂🙂Patricia Gries the Physicak therapist is very awesome too, she works with him to follow directions and he is doing great.🙂Mike the Speech therapist is good, he has a lot of patience, he just started working with Agni, from what I have seen he is awesome. 🙂We have been referred by Marilyn, Sarah’s(pt) mom, she is a God send else we wouldn’t have known about ABCResponse from the ownerThank you so much Sunita! We agree – we have amazing therapists working to help children and families each day! ★★★★★ I fell and broke my arm and destroyed my elbow end of January. I had surgery February 1. When surgeon gave the ok to begin hand/arm therapy, I made appointment with Bekah Thomas. She is wonderful. She worked with me with such patience and encouragement. After several months, I graduated today, July 9. I surpassed mine and Bekah’s goals. If you need any hand or arm therapy, Bekah is your therapist. Everyone at Synergy has been most helpful and great to deal with. I recommend them highly.Response from the ownerThank you so much for your positive feedback, it means the world to us! – The team at Synergy Rehab and Wellness, Staunton ★★★★★ ABC Pediatrics has been amazing! They did a great job of assessing our child’s needs and recommending just the right therapy ( OT, PT and speech) for our child’s success both at home and at school. We have enjoyed participating in their community events and getting to mingle with other parents who share common struggles. We are amazed at how much more social our little one is since working with these therapists. Thank you ABC Pediatrics for supporting us through every milestone!Response from the ownerThank you for your kind review! ★★★★★ I can’t say enough good things about the amazing team I work with at Ivy Rehab (Skyla, Brian, and the incredible aids: Brian, Mikayla, and Avery)! After dealing with chronic back and neck pain for over five years and seeing more than 10 specialists, including three different physical therapists, I can confidently say this team has been a total game-changer. They’re not only incredibly skilled but also genuinely care about their patients. Their positive energy, kindness, and professionalism make every session a delightful and uplifting experience. I actually look forward to my appointments because they make the entire process so enjoyable. In just three months, I’ve made more progress here than I did at any other facility. They are true miracle workers, and I couldn’t be more grateful for their expertise and support!Response from the ownerIt’s great to hear this feedback! Thank you for taking the time to share your review! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy, Hoboken ★★★★★ I had foot surgery and, while another rehab was good, I was really not making progress. I was depressed and ready to give up, when my surgeon recommended Ivy Rehab on Granby Street in Norfolk, VA. Josh Zajac turned everything around. He has an easy-going, but highly professional manner. His evaluations, new approaches and ultrasound therapy have me back to my long walks, and getting my garden gorgeous.The entire staff is excellent. The environment is relaxed and supportive.If you want to feel better in every way, from attitude to getting your groove back 💃 this is your one stop PT shop.Response from the ownerThank you so much for sharing your thoughts, we appreciate you! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy – Norfolk – Granby ★★★★★ I went to Excel Therapy to recover from a knee dislocation. Aaron, Josh, and the whole Excel team tailored a program specifically to my injury, from alleviating pain to regaining mobility. Within two months, I went from not being able to climb stairs to resuming all sports & activities. Not only did they help me recover, but set me up with a program to further strengthen my knees to prevent any future injuries. I truly enjoyed every session there, and am grateful for all the treatment/instruction they gave me.Response from the ownerYour kind review made our day, thank you so much! – The team at Excel Physical Therapy – Westfield – East Broad St ★★★★★ Ethan at Ivy Rehab helped dramatically improve my elbow (golfer’s and tennis) with massage and exercises in a relatively short amount of time. He listened to my issues and helped me figure out how to improve without having to stop my favorite activities. He explained the problem and why the exercises would work, which motivated me to do them consistently. He was also fun to talk to, which made doing therapy exercises fun!Response from the ownerThat’s wonderful to hear – thank you so much for sharing your feedback with us! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy – Cary ★★★★★ Exceptional all around from the front desk to the therapists and assistants. A very pleasant environment with professionals that really care and provide the support needed to rehab successfully. Kudos to all!Response from the ownerThank you for taking the time to share this review, it means so much! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy, New Hyde Park ★★★★★ Knowledgeable therapists, great atmosphere to do P.T., very friendly staff. They are always there for you if you have questions or don’t know how to do the recovery work. Highly recommend it!Response from the ownerWe value your feedback, thank you for your kind words! – The team at Excel Physical Therapy, Westfield ★★★★★ Have had 2 kids have speech therapy at Leaps and Bounds. Have been extremely impressed with the therapists. Are very knowledgeable of different treatment methods and will suggest different ones that may be useful. Are very caring and provide open communication to keep you aware of progress. Have also been very helpful with any questions and coordination with therapy provided in school. Very happy with services provided and would highly recommend! ★★★★★ I had a wonderful experience at Ivy Rehab in Fort Greene. The team truly invested in my recovery from start to finish. They answered all of my questions during my visits and ensured my health and strength were top of mind. Their knowledge and support throughout my PT journey are immensely appreciated – I am stronger because of them, and have reached many personal physical goals since visiting their office. Damas, Sophia, Zach – thank you for everything!!!Response from the ownerThank you for the great review, we really appreciate it! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy – Brooklyn – Fort Greene ★★★★★ Dr. Caroline Trezona and Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy have been an amazing resource in recovery from injury. Dr. Trezona is personable and has immense knowledge to get you the best results. I highly recommend Dr. Trezona and I am thankful for the help in my recovery.Response from the ownerIt’s great to hear this feedback! Thank you for taking the time to share your review! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy, Cary ★★★★★ I cannot recommend this facility highly enough. I went there on my wife’s lead after she went for hip therapy. I went for knee soreness/weakness. The thing which impressed so much is their adaptability and creativity. I went for about 25 sessions and NEVER did the same session twice. They crafted the workout based on how I was feeling that day. They always kept it fresh which kept me engaged.As a result of their therapy, the knee got better and I’ve played golf, carrying my bag, relatively pain free.Steve and Matt are excellent and they create a fantastic environment in which to rehab. I hope I don’t need their expertise again, but if I do, this will be my place of choice.Keep up the great work, guys, and Emily! And thanks for all you did!Response from the ownerThank you for sharing this with us! – The team at Ivy Rehab, Blue Bell – South ★★★★★ I have been a patient of Excel Westfield for a few years due to a spinal stenosis injury causing a dropped left foot. This past winter, I decided to finally have a total replacement of my severely arthritic right knee which I have delayed for many years due to fear of slow recovery, on top of my sluggish walking due to the dropped foot, then add the pandemic in all built on my hesitation of elective knee surgery. After deep thought and prayer, I made the decision to have the right knee replaced. There is only one place I will go for orthopedic surgery and that is the Hospital for Special Surgery in NY. And Kudos to Brian Chalmers MD my orthopedic surgeon. There is only one place I will go to for physical therapy and that is Excel at Westfield New Jersey and Dr. Aaron Ploshnick.Due to my existing problems with my left foot I was very apprehensive of the post knee replacement recovery and accompanying physical therapy. I must state that my apprehensive was totally relieved by the excellent therapy, sensitivity and moral support of my physical therapist Dr. Aaron Ploshnick. I am now four months out of surgery and walking better and pain free.Kudos to my surgeon HSS’s Dr. Chalmers and Kudos to Excel’s Dr. Ploshnick, as I can now say that I am pain free and walking better than I have over the past four years.Excel’s Dr. Ploshnick provides EXCELlent physical therapy and as a bonus, related positive mental therapy as well.J. SchifferResponse from the ownerThank you so much for your positive feedback, it means the world to us! – The team at Excel Physical Therapy, Westfield ★★★★★ Ivy Rehab has provided me with the best care and assistance with my rehabilitation I could not be more happy with the results I have had the staff is truly amazing from Lauri,Sedara,Nicole,Laura,Jen,Rob and Fiona they go beyond doing a job they treat you like family and make you feel very welcoming you will leave this place not only feeling recovered but also loved so I recommend anyone who needs any Physical Therapy please visit this locationResponse from the ownerWe value your feedback, thank you for your kind words! – The team at Ivy Rehab PT, Willingboro ★★★★★ 5 stars for the care I received under Tim’s care. He did a great job educating me as to what needed to be done and has great communication and hands on skills.js_loader
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