TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DYSFUNCTION

 OVERVIEW, ASSESSMENT & TREATMENT 

Clay Cox

REVISED
ã2008

PREFACE

This paper is being presented with the tacit understanding that the reader is a trained professional in the field of health care.  That is, you have a working knowledge of gross anatomy, are trained to identify and assess deviations in structure and function, and possess the basic manipulation skills required to address issues and restore function in a wide range of cases.

INTRODUCTION

For the purposes of this paper the phrase “Temporomandibular Pain Disorder Syndrome” (TMPDS) for what has commonly been called “Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Syndrome.” 

TMPDS is defined by a triad of primary symptoms:

            1.  Pain and tenderness of the muscles of mastication.

            2.  Joint sounds with jaw opening.

            3.  Limited mandibular movement.

Secondary characteristics include referred pain to other areas of the head causing headaches, and retro-orbital, bitemporal, and occipital pain.

This paper will present an overview of TMPDS, offer instruction on how to identify it in your clients, and offer several treatment approaches that effectively reduce the client’s complaints. The case will also be presented for taking a detailed case history and performing an adequate physical examination. 

There are a number of considerations that must be addressed before attempting to render aid to a suffering pain client of any type.  Is the work that you are considering doing going to be done within the context of a traditional Rolfing series or will it be stand alone work?  Will you be working with this client as a solo practitioner or as part of a treatment team?  Is the client’s complaint based on trauma or is it cryptogenic?  Another serious consideration is whether this person is a pre- or a post-surgical case.  I will address these issues briefly in this paper, but I believe that each case will present other aspects of the individual that must be closely examined.

The language I use is from the allopathic perspective.  Most of the TMPDS clients we see are referrals from allopaths or have extensive history in the allopathic system.  The allopathic language format is the one the client is most familiar with.  With improved communication comes efficacy in treatment, and a common language is the first step towards better communication.

For a complete complementary copy of this article, please contact Clay Cox at: claycoxnaz@gmail.com or 520-323-0188