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Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the point where your lower jawbone, the mandible, meets your skull on each side. These highly flexible joints are responsible for talking, chewing, and yawning. Temporomandibular joint disorder is diagnosed in patients with painful, limited jaw mobility that inhibits numerous vital everyday activities.

Symptoms of TMJ

For most, TMJ symptoms are periodic but chronic TMJ suffers can experience painful, exhausting symptoms for a lifetime:

  • Jaw pain or bite pain
  • Jaw stiffness, difficulty opening, and closing mouth
  • Clicking sounds with pain
  • Chronic TMJ headaches
  • Earaches and ear pressure
  • Radiating pain to neck and shoulders

What Causes TMJ?

The jaw joints are the most complex in the body, working as both hinges and slides to allow the jaw to open, close, and rotate. When the soft tissue cartilage becomes inflamed or damage occurs to the small disc in the joint, TMJ symptoms occur.

TMJ is widely recognized as a musculoskeletal disorder, not a dental problem.

The jaw pain and limited mobility of TMJ can be caused by:

  • Arthritis
  • Jaw Injury
  • Muscle Fatigue from clenching or grinding teeth
  • Past dental procedures

TMJ Therapy

Based on the proven results of conservative therapy, experts recommend TMJ be treated with the most moderate means possible, avoiding surgical or dental procedures to permanently change your jaw or teeth. At Manhattan Sports Therapy, Dr. Miro specializes in diagnosing and relieving jaw pain and stiffness associated with TMJ.

Dr. Miro’s conservative therapies are highly effective at mobilizing the soft tissues of the temporomandibular joint to alleviate pain and restore smooth function before the structures become permanently damaged. His gentle, hands-on approach addresses dysfunctions of the small jaw joints in a way that is therapeutic and restorative, resulting in lasting, pain-free jaw function.

Should your condition warrant more extensive treatment, Dr. Miro will work closely with you and your dental provider to design a layered treatment plan custom to your needs. This plan will create the fastest, most effective healing should dental or surgical intervention be required.

Contact Manhattan Sports Therapy to schedule an appointment with us.

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Happy Patients View More Testimonials

Pam L.

Having performed surgery for decades my neck And back have been damaged. I can honestly say that Rachel has kept me functioning at a high level. Nobody else was. Despite being a surgical candidate which is refused to have she managed to overcome all of my problems. The office is also immaculately clean ( I am a germaphobe). Chiro in the past was hit or miss. Sometimes it helped and sometimes it actually made things worse. This has never happened with Rachel. I always feel better. Guaranteed. She will bend over backwards to accommodate my schedule. She is a rising star.

Will A.

The entire staff is very helpful, kind, and extremely efficient. If it wasn't for Dr. Rolland Miro I strongly feel the bursitis in my shoulder would still be in major pain. If you have shoulder pain, rotator cuff issues, or bursitis don't hesitate, RUN to see this man! I came to Manhattan Sports Therapy skeptical because I had already visited two other physical therapist who were not getting me better. I had pain for 9 months until visiting MST. Miro was patient with my healing process and was always transparent when telling me what stages I was in my recovery. Now I am fully recovered back to pumping iron and putting on a backpack without pain. Thank you to everyone in that office for making my experience great from start to finish.

Natalie V.

I was having severe inner hip and lower back pain for months. Every step I took was painful. I couldn't run, bike, swim or even attempt a workout. I started seeing a PT twice a week for a month and nothing happened, in fact, my pain increased. So, I decided to try another Physician and I found Manhattan Sports Therapy and Dr. Rolland Miro. After my first appointment, I knew I made the right choice. I started seeing Dr. Rolland twice a week. After my first week, I could already feel a HUGE difference. After week three, the pain in my hip was completely gone. It's now been two months and as I continue my treatment, I'm feeling better and better. I ran five miles for the first time in over a year last week! I highly highly recommend Dr. Rolland. He's the best at what he does and he's very knowledgable when it comes to health and fitness all around.

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