Considering dry needling treatments for your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder? If you are experiencing the symptoms of a TMJ disorder, it is important to seek professional treatment. TMJ issues typically involve pain, tenderness and functional issues in the jaw joint. Your symptoms may worsen when using your jaw. This can make it harder to do things like eating and talking. Fortunately, relief is possible. Physical therapy can be a great resource on your recovery journey. If you are looking for PT treatment methods that can help you recover, dry needling is an excellent option.
Applying dry needling techniques requires a skillful touch. Physical therapists who specialize in dry needling undergo rigorous training to ensure that they can provide top-notch treatment. The process of dry needling is fairly simple: Your physical therapist will insert sterile needles into targeted regions of your body. The insertion points are typically around the areas affected by your condition. Dry needling can be a great way to address your TMJ symptoms. By inserting a needle into the right spot, your physical therapist can help ease muscle tension and stimulate healing, among other benefits. Learning more about the benefits of dry needling can demonstrate its value as a top treatment for TMJ disorders.
Benefits of dry needling for TMJ disorders
- Rapid relief — Are TMJ issues giving you intense jaw pain? Pain is one of the most common symptoms of TMJ dysfunction. In most cases, the pain is localized around the jaw. However, you may also experience referred pain in other parts of your head and neck. TMJ pain typically affects the jaw joint as well as the surrounding tissue. When it comes to treatment goals, pain relief is typically a priority. This is one area where dry needling can benefit you. Dry needling is meant to trigger an immediate response from the nervous system. This response can help reduce your pain. Because dry needling promotes healing, it can also help you experience long-term pain relief. If you want a treatment that can benefit you now and later, dry needling can be a great choice.
- Muscle relaxation — TMJ pain can have many causes. One common source of this pain is muscle tension. When the muscles around your jaw tighten, it can lead to pain and other symptoms in the surrounding area. Muscle tension can even hinder your ability to move your jaw. By reducing muscle tension, you can potentially address the root cause of your symptoms. Dry needling addresses muscle tension by targeting trigger points. Trigger points, sometimes called muscle knots, are tense bands of muscle tissue. Inserting dry needles can help alleviate the tension in these bands, allowing your muscles to relax. This can reduce symptoms like stiffness, pain and muscle spasms.
- Improved range of motion — TMJ issues can limit your jaw’s range of motion. When your jaw joint is restricted, it can make simple tasks like chewing feel much more challenging. Dry needling can help improve function in certain muscle groups around the TMJ by improving flexibility. This technique is designed to boost flexibility by reducing inflammation and improving blood flow. The goal is an increase in your jaw’s range of motion. By improving the range of motion of your jaw muscles, you can work to restore your normal capabilities.
- Better circulation — TMJ issues often arise from injured or inflamed tissue. Sudden injuries and chronic conditions like arthritis are some of the most common TMJ disorder causes. Regardless of your condition’s cause, it is important to find an effective treatment. When managing your symptoms, finding a treatment that delivers lasting results is essential. Dry needling is designed to stimulate your natural healing processes. By promoting better blood circulation, dry needling helps all your tissue receive vital nutrients. Improved circulation can be crucial to managing conditions like arthritis. If your TMJ pain is related to an injury rather than a chronic condition, dry needling can help accelerate your recovery.
- Therapeutic synergy — Dry needling is a great treatment method on its own. However, it often delivers even better results when integrated with other physical therapy techniques. Physical therapists can help address acute and chronic pain with a wide range of evidence-driven strategies. Working with your physical therapist, you can develop a tailored treatment plan for your TMJ disorder that includes dry needling in synergy with other PT methods.
REPAIR SI offers dry needling treatments for TMJ issues
Ready to receive dry needling treatments for your TMJ disorder? REPAIR SI can help you experience one-of-a-kind care. Our team is committed to helping each patient meet their individual goals and improve their quality of life. With our help, you can work toward long-term TMJ relief.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.