Hospital da Luz Oeiras has available a physiotherapy treatment to rehabilitate the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) – the point where the temporal bone (a skull bone) articulates with the lower jaw, and which allows us to perform vertical movements (opening and closing the mouth) and horizontal movements (sideways, forth and back). This joint develops sometimes dysfunctions that affect the muscles of mastication and surrounding structures and may involve pain. The TMJ dysfunctions are the most common situation in women between 20 and 50 years of age. The signs and symptoms of such dysfunctions are: Joint noises while performing functional movements of the jaw; Disorders in joint movements on any direction; Pain in the ears, located in the TMJ area and mastication muscles; Cervical pain and headache. The rehabilitation of the temporomandibular joint pathology (TMJ): Is a conservative physiotherapy treatment in the first line of treatment for TMJ dysfunctions; Its purpose is to educate the patient regarding daily habits and correct movement of the jaw and tongue, as well as reducing the pain (joint and muscular) and improving the range and quality of movements; Produces results in around 80% patients, with a very positive impact on their quality of life. Learn more about TMJ dysfunctions
