The temporomandibular joint is a hinge joint that connects your jaw bone (mandible) to the temporal bones located at the side of your skull. This joint lets you move your jaw up and down and side-to-side. When this joint is not functioning properly, you may experience pain or difficulty while talking, chewing and yawning. TMD can be caused by an injury to the jaw, head, or neck, grinding/clenching of the teeth and even stress. Signs of TMD include pain that travels through the face, jaw and neck, stiffness in the jaw muscles and limited movement or locking of the jaw. Some may also experience painful clicking and/or popping at the jaw, or a change in the way your upper and lower teeth fit together. Physical therapists can help treat your TMD by using a combination of manual techniques and gentle strengthening exercises to restore the natural movements of your jaw and decrease pain.
