Welcome to H&D Physical Therapy!
TMJ Specialist in Lenox Hill
NYC’s leading physical therapy clinic since 1997
We believe that in order to reach your goals, you need one-on-one time with your own personal therapist. Our approach of combining highly skilled therapy with closely monitored personalized care has been widely recognized. H&D Physical Therapy- TMJ Specialist in Lenox Hill has been chosen as the sole provider of therapy services for 10 fortune 500 companies.
In the mid-90’s, insurance carriers started becoming more profit-driven than they had ever been before. This aggressive bottom-line focus was reflected in greatly reduced reimbursements that affected how physical therapy was delivered.
Many providers responded by looking for ways to double, triple or even quadruple the number of patients they could see in an hour. As a result, the quality of care suffered. If you had neck pain, there was only enough time to look at your neck and then treat your neck.
Greg and Rob refused to treat patients as if they were part of an assembly line. They said, ‘Enough is enough’ and in 1997 H&D Physical and Occupational therapy was established with a mission to provide one-on-one integrated science-based holistic therapy.
What does that mean?
Every small child knows some version of Them bones. You might be humming it right now—…the hip bone’s connected to the back bone, the back bone’s connected to the neck bone…
Our musculoskeletal system is truly an extraordinary feat of (bio)engineering. An interconnected and complex chain of events is required every time we move. Pain often occurs when there is a disruption somewhere in that chain and it is possible that pain in one area may be caused by a problem located in a different part of the body.
For example, wrist pain, numbness, or tingling in the fingers are hallmarks of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Typically, this is caused by a compressed nerve in the wrist due to repetitive movements such as typing or using a mouse. However, these symptoms might actually originate from poor posture, tense muscles, nerve compression in the neck and pain traveling down the arm and into the hand. These two diagnoses cannot be differentiated if an isolated symptom approach is used. Integrated evidence-based holistic therapy means we consider biomechanics, your lifestyle and how you work to arrive at the correct diagnosis.
Our Treatment Philosophy
We treat people, not body parts. Our PTs and OTs give you their undivided attention during your session. If you are in pain, we are on a quest to discover “why?” After we ask, ‘Where does it hurt? we take the time to ask:
- When does it hurt?
- What position are you in when it hurts?
- How does it affect your day?
- Where else in your body might you be weak or stiff?
- Have you had these symptoms in the past?
- What does your typical day look like (sleeping, eating, stress levels, etc.)?
Equally important, we take the time to really listen to your answers. This often uncovers surprising root causes for the pain or injury. In fact, we once cured a right-handed pitcher’s recurring elbow pain by treating his left foot.
Using a systems approach, we analyzed his pitching form, and saw that when his left foot landed on the ground, he was a bit off balance which resulted in an inefficient movement pattern. This movement pattern increased stress to the right elbow.
By improving his left foot mobility and balance, his right elbow pain disappeared. A symptom approach that focused solely on treating the elbow pain, without addressing the root cause, would not have produced the same successful outcome.
We have thousands of stories like this one. Whether you’ve never tried physical therapy before, or you have and it didn’t work for you, we offer a new perspective and the personalized one-on-one care you deserve. Schedule an appointment today.
If you have questions regarding treatments available, or whether PT is appropriate for you, please contact us. We would be happy to discuss your situation in advance of an evaluation session.
What Does TMJ Mean?
TMJ is an abbreviation for the jaw joint used by medical professionals at TMJ Specialist in Lenox Hill, and all around the world. The TMJ is what connects the lower mandible, also known as the jaw bone , to the skull. It’s important to note that although some people use it as a lay term for “pain in my ear”, which some describe being caused by pressure on nerves due to structural issues, this pain is not actually TMJ.
How Does It Work?
The TMJ connects to the mandible via four different ligaments; these are the anterior (front), posterior (back) lateral (sideways) and medial (inwards). The joint is surrounded by muscle tissue, which allows for movement of the jaw. In addition, three joints surround the TMJ; the hyoid (which is connected to the tongue), the stylohyoid (connected to the lower part of the jaw bone) and of course, also, which connects to itself back at the skull.
Part of what allows people with healthy functioning TMJs to not be in constant pain every time they chew or eat is that the TMJ is more of a shock absorber, rather than being completely fluid. This is because the bones are rigid and they don’t move together when chewing or opening one’s mouth; instead, at this time it acts like most joints in the human body. For example, when you grab your shoulder with your hand and move it around, you’ll feel that it is a bit “bouncy”. It’s the same with your TMJ.
TMJ Specialist in Lenox Hill states that when the jaw bone moves out of position, due to sitting in awkward positions all day at work or something similar, many times this isn’t a problem because the bones don’t move together in normal functioning. However when they do move out of position, the TMJ becomes less of a shock absorber and more like a fluid joint (a little similar to the knee joint).
This is also why even people without TMJ problems can get sore jaw muscles if they clench their teeth together for long periods of time; it’s because they are using muscle tissue in place of fluid. This isn’t a good thing, because how it’s supposed to work is that only the bones must move in order for you to open your mouth, but with some people they clench their teeth together and this causes the muscles to do all of the work. This is a lot of work for them and can become very painful.
Contact Us: TMJ Specialist in Lenox Hill
If you or a loved one are looking for TMJ Specialist in Lenox Hill give H&D Physical Therapy a call. Our team is devoted to helping you heal, and live pain free!
What Causes TMJ?
Are you experiencing jaw pain and are wondering what is causing it? Jaw pain, also known as TMJ, has many possible causes which can be very uncomfortable. However, there are also many exercises and treatments you can follow that can relieve jaw pain. At H&D Physical Therapy, our TMJ specialist in Lenox Hill will take a closer look at your jaw and will provide you with effective treatments that will reduce the pain.
What is TMJ?
The temporomandibular joint is a joint that connects your jawbone to your skull. If the joint is injured or damaged, it can lead to a pain disorder called the temporomandibular joint, also known as TMJ.
What causes TMJ?
Many causes can lead to TMJ, but the following are the most common causes of jaw pain:
- Tooth Decay: You must brush your teeth daily and keep up with dental visits, so you don’t get cavities. Having cavities can lead to TMJ. For instance, if your cavity gets infected, that infection can spread to the tooth’s root. This causes TMJ, especially if the back of your teeth gets infected. That is why you must keep up with your dentist appointments, so if you have a cavity, your dentist will take it early before it can cause TMJ.
- Autoimmune Diseases: Any type of autoimmune disease can cause TMJ, such as lupus, sclerosis, or arthritis. These diseases cause severe pain along your jaw that sometimes you may not be able to open your mouth entirely or sometimes not even at all. However, you can talk to a TMJ specialist in Lenox Hill who can tell you how to manage the pain and can provide you with a plan of treatment.
- Sinus infections: Your sinuses trap the bacteria you inhale in your mucus and protect your lungs from harmful germs. However, if you have allergies or you get a cold, you might get a sinuses infection. This can also cause TMJ since the infection causes swelling, pain, and pressure in the walls of your sinus. If the swelling gets too intense, then it can expand to your jaw, causing TMJ.
- Stress: Did you know that experiencing too much stress can cause TMJ? For instance, when you’re feeling stress, the muscles in your jaw get tense and cause pain in the joint. Stress can also cause headaches, and these headaches can also affect your jaw, which leads to pain. One way to stop this is to follow activities or techniques that can reduce stress. Any activities you do to reduce stress also reduce jaw pain. Some activities include going out for walks, listening to music, reading, or even meditating.
- Grinding or Clenching of Teeth: Some people are used to grinding their teeth while sleeping, and they don’t even notice. However, when they wake up, they may have jaw pain, and they don’t know what is causing it. Even little things or simple habits like chewing gum, biting on a pencil, or another object can cause you to grind your teeth at night. When you grind or clench your teeth, the muscles around the joint get tired and seize up, which causes jaw pain. Talking with a TMJ specialist in Lenox Hill is beneficial as they can give you some exercise to stop grinding your teeth.
Contact Our TMJ specialist in Lenox Hill
If you’re currently experiencing TMJ, you might want to get an evaluation to avoid and prevent future issues. At H&D Physical Therapy, our team of experts and professionals have you covered by providing you with the best care and course of treatment. Contact us today for a TMJ specialist in Lenox Hill!
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