Cervical Range of Motion & TMJ
Sure, TMJ disorders can respond very well to acupuncture. But it isn't just needling ST7 or SI19. And it isn't just ashi needling or needling the masseter motor point.
In fact, before you put any needles in, you should go through an assessment. How else will you know why the patient has TMJ pain and how to treat it?
One important part of the assessment is the exam. During the exam, we need to check the patient's cervical Range of Motion (ROM). There must be cervical extension in order for the jaw to function properly. Go ahead and try it! Open your mouth like you're taking a big bite and you will notice your head tilts back.
A 2003 study found that all participants with TMJ complaints had either reduced or no cervical extension.
If your TMJ patient has reduced or absent cervical extension (their head doesn't tilt back), then you will have to address the neck.
Thank you to @susan_beck for showing me this
Neat little feature on the Locals Phone app.
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Spring is coming… eventually. And when it does, runners will start emerging again, not just the die-hards who have been braving the cold all winter. I treat a whole spectrum of runners in clinic, from Ironman athletes to weekend joggers and everything in between. This webinar is an absolute goldmine, and I hope you get as much out of it as I have.
@Exstoreman I now have several patients with L4-L5 herniation and drop foot and/or leg-foot nerve pain. Some of them are making good progress, others not so much.
Should I be doing soft tissue work around L4-L5 and/or elsewhere?
And you previously mentioned there's a way to use gua sha effectively for this (since I have hand/wrist injury), can you describe that?
