Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ)

The TMJ joint is the joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull.  Problems with this joint can often cause problems with biting and the ability to open the jaw.  This can be a very frustrating condition to have since it can be very painful and can greatly interfere with the ability to eat, chew, or even talk. 

This problem can be caused by an actual dysfunction of the TMJ joint, but often it is caused by an imbalance of the muscles that control the lower jaw motions.  There are four muscles that move the lower jaw: the masseter, the temporalis, the internal pterygoid, and the external pterygoid.  Adhesions in these muscles can create improper jaw function and lead to a TMJ syndrome.  Active Release Technique works wonders in removing the adhesions between these muscles and can thus help correct the problem if the problem is indeed muscular in origin.