Well designed massage therapy treatment for TMD includes systematic and careful attention to the facial muscles, each of the muscles of mastication and muscles of the head and neck. Treatment generally requires both extraoral and intraoral work. Gentleness and minimization of discomfort are hallmarks of good clinical massage therapy care.

Indications and Referral

Good candidates for massage therapy treatment are:

• patients with pain originating from the muscle of the face, head or neck,
• patients with pain in the muscles of mastication,
• patients with muscle spasm or muscle tension causing TMD symptoms,
• patients with headaches due to muscle tension.

Massage therapy can be an important complement to dental care in the treatment of TMJ disc derangement both with and without reduction. Soft tissue treatment approaches may also be utilized to address:

• tender points,
• trigger points,
• hypertonus,
• spasm and
• fascial restriction.

Massage Therapists do not diagnose pathology. Assessment is limited to history taking, observation, palpation and manual tests to assist in selecting the treatment approach.

The Ohio Massage Therapy practice act requires that patients with a current diagnosis of TMD have a prescription from an Ohio licensed dentist before receiving massage therapy for the condition. This helps to assure open communication and teamwork between therapist and referring dentist.

Goals of Treatment

The objectives of massage therapy in TMD treatment are to:

• reduce pain (especially pain of muscular origin),
• improve range of motion,
• improve blood circulation and lymphatic flow,
• promote relaxation of muscles of mastication, face and neck.

Patients at risk of developing chronic conditions contributed to or caused by muscular tension benefit from treatment for maintenance and prevention.

Contraindications

Active intraoral infections, neoplasms and contagious infectious conditions of the skin of the face, head or neck are contraindications for massage therapy treatment.

Overview of Medical Massage Therapy

Massage therapy has been a licensed profession under the supervision of the Medical Board of the State of Ohio since 1916. Licensed Medical Massage Therapists must complete training of 600-1000 hours over 18—24 months in massage techniques, anatomy, physiology, pathology/ physical dysfunction, business practices and ethics at an approved school before they are eligible to sit for the licensure exam.

Clinical massage therapy for TMJ, head, neck and face is a specialty area of medical massage therapy.

The nature of the profession is such that therapists take a holistic and relational approach with their clients/ patients.