Craniosacral Therapy Helps TMJ

Craniosacral Therapy is a light-touch modality that can create dramatic improvements in your life if you have TMJ dysfunction.

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction is associated with pain or dysfunction in the joint of the jaw. Often this condition is abbreviated as TMJ.

TMJ symptoms can include:
Jaw pain when chewing, talking and yawningr
Difficulty opening and closing the mouthr
Clicking when chewing or opening and closing the mouthr
Dizziness and vertigor
Ear symptoms such as pressure, ringing, pain and itching

Some of the possible causes of TMJ Dysfunction are:
Trauma or injury to the jawr
Extended use of oral appliances such as bracesr
Teeth grinding and jaw clinchingr
Tight muscles and ligaments in the neck/shoulder area
Inflammation of the joint capsule of the jawr
Misaligned bones of the skull and hard palate

Membrane tensions within the skull, poor neck posture, whiplash injuries, or head trauma can cause the temporal bones of the skull to move out of proper alignment. As a result, the position and motion of the TMJ can become dysfunctional as well.

A therapist trained in the use of Craniosacral Therapy can assess the position and motion of the temporal bones, as well as the alignment of the jaw and skull bones, and can help the body restore normal intrinsic movement to bring all of these bones toward more optimal positions. If the membranes within the skull are pulling the temporal bone into a dysfunctional position, typical treatments, such as postural re-education programs, anti-inflammatory medications and/or night splints will probably not be able to completely correct the problem at the joint.

Craniosacral Therapy also relaxes and balances the central nervous system. This helps people with the effects of stress which has manifested as jaw clenching and teeth grinding, which are typical symptoms of TMJ. To find a practitioner of Craniosacral Therapy in your area see www.iahp.com and search their practitioner data base.