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All About TMJD

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Looking for information on TMJD and Physical Therapy?

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) is a condition that affects the jaw joint and the muscles responsible for its movement. In addition to surgical treatments, there are several non-surgical treatments available for TMJD.

If you’re experiencing TMJD symptoms, it’s important to talk to a doctor about your treatment options. Conservative treatments, like physical therapy, have a high success rate and are typically recommended first.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options

Pharmacotherapy: Medications can be used to manage pain and other symptoms. Keep in mind, that a specialist or general practitioner may recommend prescription medication. These included but are not limited to: over-the-counter pain relievers like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen can also be used. Of course it is always most desirable to remedy this cause of the issues through physical therapy methods as opposed to pharmaceutical options.

Physical Therapy: A physical therapist can examine you to determine the root cause of your TMJD symptoms. They may also check your neck and shoulders for any issues that could be contributing to the problem. Exercises and other techniques may be prescribed to help manage TMJD symptoms.

Nightguards and Splint Therapy: Custom-made by a dentist or oral surgeon, these devices are to be worn at night to prevent grinding or clenching of teeth, which exacerbates TMJD symptoms.

Injections: Joint injections with hyaluronic acid and muscle injections with Botox can help relieve pain and relax the jaw muscles.

There are many treatment options. More specifically for more severe cases there are also surgical treatments available for TMJD. However, surgery is generally only recommended if other treatments have failed.

Surgical Treatment Options

Arthrocentesis: This involves injecting needles into the jaw joint to remove tissue breakdown products and reduce inflammation.

TMJD Arthroscopy: This is a more invasive procedure that involves placing needles into the joint and using an arthroscope to look inside and perform surgical procedures to remove scar tissue, smooth out bone, or attempt to reposition the disc.

Arthrotomy (Open Joint Procedure): This is a more invasive surgery that is performed under general anesthesia. Surgeons make an incision to remove adhesions, osteophytes, fibrous or bony ankylosis, and/or tumors.

If you’re experiencing TMJD symptoms, talk to a doctor about your treatment options. Physical therapy and other non-surgical treatments can be highly effective in managing TMJD symptoms, and surgical options are available if needed. Physical therapy, in many cases is highly effective in the treatment of many TMJD cases both acute and chronic. Check out our team of highly trained clinicians here at Elite Therapy Solutions. For a Chester County location: Give us a call at 610-696-3305. For a York/Adams County location: Give us a call at 717-840-1874 to set up an initial evaluation. We can see patients within 24-48 hours, and we allot an hour of evaluation time. We pride ourselves in being on the cutting edge of TMJD treatment diagnosing and techniques to get you back to pain-free living!

National Active Aging Week

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We are all aging, every second of every single day, and that is something worth celebrating! This week is National Active Aging week, and it doesn’t mean that we are all actively aging; but it means that we should all try to remain active while we age. Regardless of if you are 23, 43, or 63, continuing to stay active is crucial to our health and that is what this week is all about.

Did you know, as we age, our physician visits increase by 30%? Our body is more susceptible to wear and tear as we get older, which keeps us from doing the things we love. Some of the most common conditions that individuals over 50 years old suffer from are:

  •         Arthritis
  •         Osteoporosis
  •         Joint Replacement
  •         Balance Disorders
  •         Overall Deconditioning and Muscle Weakness

Thankfully, we have seen amazing results at managing these conditions after going through physical and occupational therapy with Elite.

Everyday activities like gardening, going grocery shopping, and so much more can be made easier. Don’t let your age keep you from doing what you love, let us help you get back and better than ever!

Arthritis

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Over 27 million Americans suffer from arthritis, making it the most common cause of disability in the United States.  Arthritis is defined as joint inflammation, but the term is used to describe around 200 conditions that affect joints, the tissues that surround the joint, and other connective tissue. It is a rheumatic condition with the most common form known as osteoarthritis.

What causes arthritis?

  • Excessive wear and tear on the joints
  • Obesity
  • Work-related injuries
  • Post-traumatic accidents
  • Sports injuries

Signs 

  • Pain and stiffness first thing in the morning
  • Joints ache after prolonged walking, driving, climbing stairs
  • Reduced range of motion of the joint
  • Swelling and reduced range of motion

How can PT help?

  • Improve joint mobility
    • Joint mobilization
    • Stretching/balance exercises
    • Improve strength
  • Decrease pain
    • Ice/heat with compression and elevation
    • Electric stimulation

Need help addressing arthritis pain?  Call 610-466-7060 and schedule your evaluation at one of our three convenient locations in Coatesville, Downingtown and West Chester!

Deconditioning Prevention

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What is deconditioning?

Deconditioning refers to a physical decline in function. During this time of isolation and social distancing, deconditioning can occur very easily. It causes diminished muscle mass, decreased muscle strength by two to five percent per day, weight gain, changes in joint structure and muscle shortening. This can then result in increased falls, functional decline, increased frailty, and overall limited mobility.  It is important to stay active and continue to move, especially now, to maintain physical abilities and prevent these effects.

How can PT Help?

  • Increase balance/flexibility
  • Lower risk of falls
  • Improve strength and stability
  • Improve gait
  • Raise confidence level in exercise

Staying Active Through COVID

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COVID has really put a damper on activities that we would normally do. It is important to stay active and healthy, even if that means doing things inside or by ourselves! Below are some activities that can help to keep you active and safe during the COVID & Winter Season.

Tip 1: Get Busy Moving!

It is important to keep our bodies active and moving during COVID times. During all of this we can become more sedentary staying inside and away from others. This winter try some new activities like taking a virtual exercise class. Elite Therapy Solutions’ own Occupational Therapist, Maddie! She holds free virtual exercise classes which you can tune into live. These take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays through Brandywine Valley Active Aging Facebook page. For more information and to get involved, please email jorge@bvactiveaging.org.

Tip 2: Try your hand at a new hobby!

Keeping busy and active is important! What better time to pick up a new hobby than during the cold winter months? Try getting involved in a crafting project like knitting, sewing, or scrapbooking. If arts and crafts aren’t your thing, try a hobby such as indoor gardening. It is a quick way to get involved in something that will keep you active each day.

Tip 3: Get Organized

We typically think of getting organized during the spring season when we do our “spring cleaning”. However, with the colder months approaching, now would be an ideal time to get rid of those old and unwanted items, to make room for the new and exciting. Try starting with just one room or closet at a time – out with the old and in with the new (year)!

Tip 4: A Brisk Walk

Even though its cold outside, that does not mean you need to stay indoors 24/7. Getting fresh air has been shown to improve mood, increase blood circulation, and help in cardiovascular health. A long walk is not necessary, so bundle up, and try just walking up and down the driveway…as long as there isn’t snow and ice that is!

Tip 5: Cook a New Meal

During this time where things can get boring and are often the same thing repeatedly, why not try switching it up and trying a new menu item! New cookie and soup recipes are a good way to stay warm and cozy both inside your home, and inside your body. Don’t forget to stay hydrated as well! Drink plenty of fluids.

With COVID affecting everyone, it is important to find the positives in our lives. Try some of these tips to keep you active and safe during the cold winter and COVID months.

Fall Prevention

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Did you know…

Adults age 65 or older:

  • 1 out of 3 adults fall each year
  • Falls are the leading cause of injury death, and the most common cause of nonfatal injury & hospital admission for trauma

Many people who fall, even if they are not injured, develop a fear of falling. This fear may cause them to limit their activities, which leads to reduced mobility and loss of physical fitness, and in turn increases their actual risk of falling.

Balance: A person can become disoriented if the sensory input received from his or her eyes, muscles, joints, or vestibular organs sources conflict with one another.

  • Joints and Mechanoreceptors– As joints age, mechanoreceptors become less sensitive.
  • Cerebellum and Brain– Movements and neurological function decreases as we age.
  • Inner Ear- Vertigo is a common cause of falls.
  • Sense of Sight– Vision decreases as we age and diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in
  • Sense of Touch– Diabetic neuropathy can mean loss of feeling, which can lead to poor balance.

How can Physical or Occupational Therapy help?

  • Evaluate each patient to find which of these symptoms are affecting the ability to balance.
  • Review the patient’s medical history
  • Review the patient’s medication list
  • Perform a clinical observation
  • Berg balance scale test
  • Specific tests for vertigo

Physical VS Occupational

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Physical VS Occupational

Have you ever wondered what Physical and Occupational Therapy are and how they differ? While there are numerous differences, the primary distinction between the two disciplines of PT & OT is that physical therapy’s main focus is gross motor function, or large muscle movements, while occupational therapy focuses on how the patient uses fine motor, or small muscle movements, and cognitive skills to perform tasks that are meaningful to them. To learn more, check out the video!