Matt came in to see us at Dynamic Sports Physical Therapy in New York City because he was dealing with pain and tightness on the left side of his jaw. He explained that his jaw felt extremely achy and was bothering him both during the day and at night. Matt’s pain led him to visit a doctor, who diagnosed him with a temporomandibular joint disorder—or TMD—and gave him a mouth guard.
Matt wore the mouth guard at night as prescribed, but it did not help to relieve his painful symptoms. He also noticed that when he experienced stress, he would grind his teeth, which created more pain and tightness in the jaw. Work had been particularly stressful lately for Matt, and he felt that this increase in stress was making his symptoms worse.
How we addressed Matt’s symptoms at Dynamic Sports Physical Therapy in New York City
Before beginning treatment, Matt stated that his goals were straightforward: to experience relief of the tension and pain in his jaw. To accomplish this, acupuncture was used to release the tight muscles in his jaw and promote the relaxation response in the body by inducing the parasympathetic mode. Cupping was also performed on Matt’s neck and jaw to promote myofascial release and decrease his pain levels. Breathing exercises and essential oils were used to help further relax the body and the nervous system, since stress was one of the aggravating factors for the symptoms. Matt was also given exercises to perform at home to stretch and strengthen his jaw muscles.
After only five sessions, Matt reported that he was completely symptom free and treatment was completed. Matt was then instructed to continue performing his prescribed exercises at home, which he has stuck with and maintained his positive outcome.
Our team is thrilled to see Matt improve so rapidly, and we believe that his case is a prime example of how quickly change can come about when the appropriate treatments are utilized. If you’re dealing with any pain of your own, whether it be in your jaw or elsewhere in the body, we can help bring about similar benefits for you. Contact Dynamic Sports Physical Therapy in New York City at 212-317-8303 to schedule an appointment today, or click here to read our last blog for more information on TMDs.
