Many people experience jaw dysfunction at some point in their lives. On top of this, a person who is protecting a painful neck or jaw may organize their posture or movement patterns in ways that reinforce this dysfunction. Clenching or grinding may influence the neck and shoulders; but also less expected areas such as hearing and balance mechanisms in the ear.
My subspecialty in treating temporomandibular disorders (TMD) was really born out of my love for the Feldenkrais Method. Early in my practice, I began receiving referrals for patients with TMD because the finesse that came from teaching Feldenkrais workshops on the jaw developed into a more comprehensive and nuanced idea of why the jaw functions as it does.
Manual therapy can be extremely helpful for TMD, and it is an important part of my work. My PT background has given me a detailed understanding of anatomy, joint mechanics, muscle function, pathology and rehabilitation. But, the Feldenkrais method has helped me to understand how these systems work more broadly- the nature of how to untangle patterns to be able to move the jaw more freely.
I find the Feldenkrais Method to be extremely affective in treating TMD. I hope you will find it worthwhile.
Read my blog post on Injuries of the jaw during the pandemic
