The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the muscles that control it can become painful and inflamed. When this happens, you have a condition called TMJ dysfunction, and this condition can lead to pain in the jaw joint. This pain can even spread behind your ear or down your neck. Physical therapists in St. Louis, Missouri, can help you find treatment for TMJ dysfunction, and there are two exercises they can show you that can help treat TMJ pain that reaches behind your ear.
- Goldfish exercise
One exercise a physical therapist may recommend for TMJ pain behind your ear is the goldfish exercise. This exercise is designed to strengthen and stretch the muscles that control your jaw.
To begin this exercise, you’ll want to sit in a stable chair with your back straight and your head centered over your shoulders. Then, place your tongue against the roof of your mouth. Before you start the exercise, you’ll also need to place one finger of your left hand on your left TMJ, and you should also place your right pointer finger on your chin.
Once your tongue and fingers are in place, slowly lower your jaw as far as you can without pain. Make sure your tongue stays on the roof of your mouth as you move your jaw. After opening your jaw as much as possible, close your jaw again while applying light pressure to the chin with your finger. Repeat these steps five or six times to complete one set. To avoid overtiring your jaw, only do one set of goldfish exercises at a time, and you’ll also want to try to do at least six total sets of this exercise at regular intervals throughout the day.
- Jaw glide
Another physical therapy exercise that can help decrease TMJ pain behind your ear is the jaw glide exercise. This exercise focuses on stretching your TMJs and their associated muscles with gentle forward and backward movement.
This exercise is best done while seated, and this is because sitting down allows you to focus more attention on the movement of the exercise. To get into position for jaw glides, find a stable chair to sit in, and sit with your back straight, shoulders back and head centered over your shoulders. Next, you’ll place your tongue firmly against the roof of your mouth, and you’re ready to begin.
With your tongue still on the roof of your mouth, slowly slide your jaw forward as far as you can. Hold this position for between five and 10 seconds, and then move your jaw as far backward as possible. As with the forward position, hold the backward position for five to 10 seconds. Once you’ve moved your jaw forward and backward one time each, you’ve completed one repetition. Continue to repeat these steps until you’ve completed a total of eight to 10 repetitions.
Find effective help for TMJ pain at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy in St. Louis, MO
Our team at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy’s St. Louis clinic has lots of experience helping patients treat TMJ pain. We’ll work closely with your dentist to develop a comprehensive treatment plan, and the physical therapy techniques we include in your plan will be selected based on your needs. Some of the techniques we can use in TMJ pain treatment plans include:
Take the next step to get our help with your TMJ issues. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
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