Fractures of the jaw, also known as a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) fracture, are more common than many people realize. TMJ fractures are the second most common fracture of the bones in the face, trailing only a broken nose. Due to the intricate nature of the jaw structure and the movements it performs during many essential functions, life can become quite uncomfortable if your jaw fracture doesn’t heal properly. One of the best ways to ensure that you jaw returns to a pre-injury level of strength and fitness is by connecting with a physical therapist. Below, we explain some of the issues a physical therapist can help prevent and treat after a TMJ fracture.
The Basics Of A TMJ Fracture
Jaw fractures are commonly the result of direct trauma to the face and jaw. A physical altercation, a car accident, a slip and fall or being struck in the face by an object are all common ways that the TMJ can fracture. High energy trauma to the face can also do damage to the muscles and soft tissues that aid in jaw positioning and movement, causing more issues for the TMJ than just the fracture. If these tissues remain damaged or weakened, movements like opening or closing your jaw can become difficult or even painful.
If you are diagnosed with a jaw fracture, you will likely need to rest and protect the area for an extended period. This will involve limiting stress on the area over the course of a number of weeks or months for mild fractures, and it could involve splinting or even wiring the jaw shut for more extreme fractures. Rest is the best way for the fracture itself to heal, but because the soft tissues may be damaged or weakened as a result of the trauma or the extended limited use, rest alone won’t get you back to moving your jaw comfortably. That’s where a physical therapist comes in.
PT For Jaw Fractures
All jaw fractures will be unique to the individual, but physical therapists will have a pretty standard plan for helping you recover from your specific injuries. For starters, they’ll begin by reviewing any relevant images or scans and they’ll have a conversation with you about your injury and your recovery so far. From there, they’ll work to establish a baseline. This will involve some hands-on manipulation of the jaw and observing you as you work to perform different motions with your mouth and jaw. This helps them determine which areas need more attention during the therapy phase.
From there, your physical therapist will develop an individualized PT routine that will target specific areas of your jaw. These exercises will be unique to the individual, but they will focus on many of the same functions, like improving a person’s jaw strength, flexibility, endurance, range of motion and positioning while the jaw is open, closed or in motion to either one of these positions. Making sure that your jaw moves in the correct alignment when performing actions like talking or chewing is essential, and this motion may not occur unless underlying injuries to muscles and ligaments are addressed.
It will be a slow and steady process, but it will be a rewarding one. Most people don’t really pay attention to their jaw positioning or function until after an injury, and only then do they realize how important proper jaw motion is. You’re going to be talking and chewing food for the rest of your life, so don’t live in constant discomfort because of untreated issues relating to a previous jaw fracture. Rest can heal the fracture site, but it is physical therapy that will drive home soft tissue strengthening and restore normal function in your jaw.
The team at OrthoRehab Specialists has a wealth of experience treating TMJ disorders and jaw fractures, and we’ll be ready to treat you in your time of need. For more information about recovering after a TMJ fracture or similar jaw condition, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today at (612) 339-2041.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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