TMJ Physiotherapy & Jaw Pain Treatment in Wellington
Are you experiencing jaw pain, clicking, locking or discomfort when chewing or talking? These can be common symptoms of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction.
At Rehab Co Thorndon, Sadhbh (pronounced “Sive”) provides TMJ physiotherapy and jaw pain treatment to help improve jaw movement, reduce pain and address the factors contributing to your symptoms.
TMJ physiotherapy is currently available exclusively at our Thorndon clinic in Wellington with Sadhbh.
What Is the TMJ?
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jawbone to your skull and allows you to talk, chew, yawn and move your jaw.
When the joint or surrounding muscles become irritated or restricted, you may experience:
Jaw pain or tenderness
Clicking or popping when opening or closing your mouth
Jaw locking or restricted movement
Headaches or facial pain
Pain when chewing or talking
Pain that spreads to the neck, ear or shoulders
Tension or discomfort around the jaw
If you are experiencing ongoing jaw pain or TMJ symptoms, TMJ physiotherapy in Wellington may help improve movement and reduce discomfort.
How We Treat TMJ & Jaw Pain
Your treatment will begin with a detailed assessment of your jaw, neck and upper back to understand what may be contributing to your symptoms.
Depending on your assessment, treatment may include:
Hands-on treatment
Soft tissue therapy, trigger point therapy and TMJ mobilisation techniques may be used to reduce muscle tension and improve joint movement.
Dry needling
Where appropriate, dry needling may be used to help manage muscle tension and pain.
Exercise therapy
A tailored exercise programme can help improve jaw movement, muscle control and overall function, while supporting longer-term recovery.
Postural strategies
Your neck and upper back can contribute to jaw symptoms, so your treatment may also include advice and exercises to address posture and movement patterns.
Your treatment plan will be tailored to your symptoms, assessment findings and goals.
TMJ Physiotherapy at Rehab Co Thorndon
At Rehab Co, you will receive one-on-one physiotherapy care with Sadhbh, who has experience treating TMJ and facial pain.
Our approach focuses on understanding the cause of your symptoms and providing practical treatment and exercises to help you manage your jaw pain.
Experienced physiotherapist providing TMJ treatment
One-on-one, personalised care
Convenient Thorndon, Wellington location
Assessment and treatment of jaw, neck and related areas
Collaboration with your dentist, GP or specialist when appropriate
Experiencing jaw pain or TMJ symptoms?
Book a TMJ physiotherapy appointment with Sadhbh at Rehab Co Thorndon or call 0800 734 2226 for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The number of sessions depends on the severity of your TMJ dysfunction, how long you’ve experienced symptoms, and your individual response to treatment. Some patients see improvement with 3-4 sessions, while more complex cases may require ongoing care over several weeks or months.
During your initial TMJ physiotherapy appointment, Sadhbh will assess your symptoms and provide a clear treatment plan with an estimated timeframe. We’ll track your progress and adjust your treatment plan as needed.
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Your first appointment is a comprehensive, hour-long consultation during which we take the time to understand your symptoms, medical history, and how jaw pain affects your daily life. We'll thoroughly assess your jaw, neck, and upper back to identify the contributing factors of your discomfort.
Following this assessment, we'll explain our findings and begin hands-on treatment during your first session, which could include soft tissue massage, TMJ mobilisation, and other tailored techniques.
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ACC may cover temporomandibular joint dysfunction treatments if your jaw pain or TMJ issues resulted from an accident or specific injury. In these cases, you can access subsidised physiotherapy sessions without needing a GP referral.
If your TMJ dysfunction has developed gradually due to factors like teeth grinding, stress, or postural issues, it typically won’t be covered by ACC. If you’re unsure whether ACC will cover your condition, we’ll happily help determine your eligibility.