PT TMJ Exercises & Self Manual Therapy

Описание: See Disclaimer prior to participating in the following treatment plan.
*** WASH HANDS THOROUGHLY 2 TIMES SCRUBBING FOR 30 seconds each time PRIOR to performing the following treatment!
Perform diaphragmatic breathing 1st-see below:

The sets/reps depend on what I tell you based off of your evaluation & specific TMJ dysfunction.
If I do not give you a specific #
3-6 reps/side 2-3 x day
Increase as it improves to 10x each side 3 x day until your dysfunction is normalized.

Normal: implies full range of motion with NO deviation: opening, lateral gliding, protrusion/retrusion, no pop/clicking — disc & joint mobility back to normal.
Exercises:
1. Controlled Opening: 20 x
Tongue behind top front 2 teeth.
SLOWLY open jaw watching self in mirror aiming for a straight line opening.
Goal: STOP any “C” or “S” deviations by retraining the TMJ muscles & joints.

Tubing instructions:
Place the tubing between the top & bottom FRONT teeth.
Gently touch the tubing, but don’t bite down hard.
This retrains the muscles requiring CONTROL of the exercise.
Therefore, you want a gentle pressure-only enough to keep it from falling out of your mouth.
This goes for ALL tubing exercises.

2. Protrusion — Retrusion Tubing
Tubing horizontal
Roll tubing forward & backward slow and controlled keeping jaw in midline - try to not let it pull to one side or the other.

3. Lateral Glides Tubing & without
Tubing longways between front teeth
Roll tubing to the R and L.
Complete all repetitions to ONE side before switching to other side.
Don’t alternate!

We are trying to retrain the brain, the joint proprioceptors & the muscles how to move correctly, which requires “repetition of the same desired action” in order to make a permanent change.

Self-Manual Therapy:
Soft tissue mobilizations (STM) to the jaw muscles, the jaw itself:
see video for specifics for where, how and how long to massage:
•Externally (on the outside of the mouth on the skin)
•Internally (inside and outside - “pinch” the muscles and hold for a trigger point release (TPR)

*MOST IMPORTANT!!
Keep your jaw relaxed while doing ANY self-TMJ treatment!!
If you tense up, it not only is counterproductive, but could make the problem worse.

***CLEAN TUBING & HANDS AFTER SELF-TREATMENT!


How to perform DEEP DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING:

1. Perform 3-4 nice long, DEEP breaths IN for 6 count, hold for 4, OUT through pursed lips “blowing out a candle”, for 6-12 counts.

2. Rest between the breaths to avoid hyperventilation & dizziness/lightheadedness if you’re new to deep, diaphragmatic breathing.

3. When performing deep breathing, you want to your chest & neck (and JAW!!) “silent” (they do not move)

4. The ONLY EXPANSION is your lower ribcage, lungs & abdomen.

5. This allows good OXYGENATION to your tiny alveoli for gas exchange in the lungs & good CARBON DIOXIDE/waste product to be exhaled out of the body.

6. Shallow, chest, or neck “accessory muscle” breathing is NEVER adequate.
It only makes neck/jaw tightness significantly worse, as well as not allowing proper O2/CO2 gas exchange to occur.

**If you psych yourself out easily when it comes to this specific area or medical “stuff” in general, try putting on some relaxing meditation/spa music & perform some deep breathing prior to any of the above self-treatment.
I recommend Deuter or 2002 (that’s the name of the artists).


Disclaimer:
This video is intended to assist in instruction for patients seen by their Physical Therapist through PT On The Go, LLC that have been issued the following home exercise program by their Physical Therapist.

*The information provided in this text and video is strictly educational only and not intended to diagnose, or treat any specific condition.
Please seek medical professional help for any medical issues.

PT On The Go, LLC is not responsible for any injury or adverse effect from watching and/or performing the exercises and educational instructions in this video.
View and perform at your own risk.
Seek medical attention from your physical therapist or physician if you have pain or any dysfunction (anywhere, but specific to this video: head, neck or jaw).


EMERGENCY DISCLAIMER for Jaw pain:
Call emergency services (9-1-1) immediately and seek medical attention without delay if you have the following (this is NOT all inclusive! No two individuals are the same!):
Chest pain/tightness/pressure
Pain radiating from the chest up to the jaw (either, but especially LEFT)
and/or into either arm (especially L)

The above symptoms may be accompanied by shortness of breath, chills/sweating, general unwell, fatigue, lightheadedness/dizziness or vertigo, loss of consciousness.
Not all symptoms have to be present.
Call emergency services, locate AED (if applicable) & Begin CPR if a person stops breathing and/or has no pulse.

These could be signs and symptoms of cardiac (heart) or vascular (blood vessel) emergency.