tmj Massage Edmonton
TMJ treatment Edmonton
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) is jaw tension that typically presents as common symptoms, including but not limited to: clicking or pain when opening and/or closing the jaw, difficulty with opening or closing the jaw, neck tension or pain, jaw tension or pain, or consistent headaches.
A great way to treat the above symptoms is through intra-oral massage treatments. You do not need a doctor or dentist’s referral to receive intra-oral treatments! Intra oral treatment is a unique type of service; it’s when a practitioner uses a latex glove to carefully treat muscular attachments that can only be accessed from inside the mouth. It's very effective, and the results are almost always felt instantly. At Strive Holistic, we recommend trying the intra-oral treatment option in conjunction with extra-oral treatment, where muscles on and around the face, scalp, and neck externally are treated as well by your massage therapist. Some examples of muscles that would be treated intra-orally that are integral to the structure and function of your jaw, are the medial and lateral pterygoids, the fascia near your zygomatic arch (jaw bone) and the insertion point of the temporalis.
Intra-oral massage therapy is typically thought to only be done by chiropractors and dentists, but massage therapists are more than capable of providing this service. It can be a wonderful compliment to a full body treatment, and can be very effective with the results being felt instantly. If you’re already on the massage table, try getting an intra-oral treatment if it’s right for you! Intra-oral treatment involves working on the muscles inside the mouth, which can help relieve tension headaches, jaw pain, and even improve breathing. However, it may not be suitable for everyone and it's important to consult with your practitioner and getting a thorough assessment done before trying it. An alternative to intra-oral, or a great combination treatment would be Acupuncture for TMJD. Check out our Acupuncture page to learn more about how combining massage therapy with Acupuncture for TMJD will provide profound and long lasting relief!
The practitioner will asses you with questions about intensity level, and type of pain, whether it's unilateral or bilateral pain (on one side of the jaw or both sides), what has been done to attempt to treat the pain so far, and if there's any practices you have that you know alleviate the pain.
An intra-oral treatment typically takes about 15-20 minutes of additional time during your massage treatment, so it is highly recommended that if you have jaw pain, and which to try an intra-oral treatment to supplement the techniques already being used, and you have multiple areas you'd like to focus on during your treatment, that you increase your treatment time to adjust for the additional needs of you body.
The sensation from an intra-oral massage can feel intense, and it's a new sensory experience for clients that aren't used to it, but it's up to the practitioner to go slow and watch for your reaction and signals to ensure that the techniques used are at your intensity and comfort level.
We offer up to 120 minute treatments here at the Strive Holistic massage clinic here in downtown Edmonton - so if you typically are used to a 60 minute full body massage, but wish to add the intra-oral technique to your full body treatment, try upgrading to 75 minutes and experience the relief!
Some extra-oral muscles that can aid and supplement in the relief of the intra-oral work your practitioner does, can include the superficial and deep masseter, the temporalis from the outside, the omoyhoid as well as the sternocleidomastoid. Many clients who come to see us at this clinic comment that the intra and extra oral work they receive is unlike anything they’ve experienced, and we love to hear this!
We invite you to ask your practitioner about the function of these muscles, and to learn more about your body and how it functions for optimal health and pain free living! Learn more about the benefits of intra-oral treatments by reading our TMJD blog.