Craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD) is often discovered by chance. It takes place in the area of the temporomandibular joint and can develop over the years. In this case there is a malposition of the temporomandibular joint, resulting in tension of the muscles in the temporomandibular joint, face and neck. The causes can range from teeth grinding to malpositioning of the teeth. Headaches and other complaints can then crystallize out of the muscular tension.
Contents of a physiotherapy
Since craniomandibular dysfunction also causes tension in the muscles of the temporomandibular joint, it should be loosened. In this context, physiotherapy measures are gaining in importance. Manual grips can loosen the muscles and reduce the tension on the temporomandibular joint.
Manual therapy is used to mobilize a malposition of the temporomandibular joint, which is present in craniomandibular dysfunction, and to bring it back into the anatomically correct position. However, the muscles should always be loosened first so that the tense muscles do not prevent mobilization. In order to treat the patient comprehensively, not only the temporomandibular joint should be examined, but also the neck and facial muscles.
This can be influenced by the jaw and can be a cause of teeth grinding in particular. In addition to the manual measures, the patient himself can do something about the craniomandibular dysfunction. Avoid food that is too firm and large and divide it better into smaller bites so that the muscles of the temporomandibular joint are not stressed even more. It is also important to relax if the craniomandibular dysfunction has a psychological background. To strengthen the muscles of the temporomandibular joint, strengthening exercises can be performed.
Exercises
Do the exercises for 15-20 seconds and repeat them in 3-5 series. You can sit down to perform the exercises. 1) This exercise is aimed directly at the muscles of the jaw joint.
Place both palms under your chin. The fingers of the left and right hand rest on the cheek. Be careful not to place your hands too close to your neck.
Keep the palms of your hands more in the front part of your chin. Now put pressure on the palms of your hands with your lower jaw and hold it. The strength of the pressure should not be too firm, but should be held well for the 15-20 seconds.
2) Besides strengthening, you can also stretch the muscles of the jaw joint. Place your middle and ring finger against your jaw joint. This is located directly under her zygomatic bone.
The remaining fingers are free. Pull your fingers down with a little pressure until you reach the end of your chin. Again, the pressure should not be too strong.
3) In order to loosen the muscles in another way besides stretching, place your two middle and ring fingers again on her jaw joint below her zygomatic bone. The remaining fingers are again exposed. Apply slight pressure again and make small circular movements on the jaw.
Repeat the circular movements a few times and move down until you have reached the end of your jaw again. 4) In addition to the temporomandibular joint, you can also strengthen the neck if you have tension in the neck area. For this exercise you have to stand with your back against a wall.
The back of your head and the entire back rests against the wall. Put your feet a little bit forward in order to be able to apply pressure better. Your elbows are bent and touch the wall.
Now press the back of your head, shoulders and elbows against the wall and hold the pressure. Make sure that you look forward and that your neck is made long. 5) The neck muscles can also be stretched.
Look to your right side first and pull your chin towards your right shoulder. Your gaze now moves down. It is important to not only look to the side, but also downwards to stretch the neck muscles optimally. Your head should now be tilted downwards. Hold the stretch and then switch to the left side.
