Onward Physical Therapy Blog

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a joint that connects your mandible to your skull, and allows your jaw to move open and closed during speaking or eating. “TMJ” is a widely used term and encompasses a broad group of health conditions that refer to the jaw. Instead, “TMD,” or temporomandibular disorder, is a term used to describe the dysfunction that...

Many individuals suffer from chronic headaches and the disabling impact it has on their lives. Those with chronic headaches often get varying diagnoses, such as migraines, tension headaches, and cluster headaches. But we frequently see cervicogenic headaches who arise because neck stiffness is the biggest driver of headaches in the clients we help. This article will help you understand how...

While not as well known as their cousin migraine headaches, tension type headaches are actually the most common type of headache suffered by humans.   Why do we know so little about such a common problem? Part of this answer undoubtedly lies in the fact that tension headaches are not as debilitating as migraines, and thus the urgency to study...

Behind low back pain and neck pain, jaw pain is the third most common muscuoloskeletal pain presentation in the United States. An estimated 75% of the U.S. population has experienced one or more signs of TMJ Disorder. Despite these stats, pain from TMJ is rarely treated conservatively despite there being very effective interventions to reduce both clicking and jaw pain...

Do you ever wake feeling soreness radiating after a night of grinding your teeth? Maybe it comes on mid-day after you’ve been at the desk for a while. The pain starts right in front of your ear, sometimes your neck even hurts alongside it. This is a familiar story and one that can rob you of your joy for the...

Ever dealt with temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD)? You know how much it can interfere with the basic pleasures of life as well as how difficult it can be to find treatment! The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is located right in front of your ear. This is the joint that connects your jawbone to your skull. This is an area of pain...

Maybe you wake first thing in the morning feeling the soreness radiating after a night of grinding your teeth, or maybe it doesn’t strike until mid-day after you’ve been sitting at your desk all morning. You notice the pain inching from your jaw throughout your face or neck as it slowly robs you of the rest of your afternoon. From...

If you’ve had the misfortune of suffering from chronic headaches, then you know how debilitating they can be. For instance, you may miss work, avoid the gym, or simply miss out on quality time with your family and friends all from headaches. At Onward Physical Therapy, our team specializes in helping individuals suffering from headaches get their lives back. Here are...

Your upper back, or thoracic spine, mobility is incredibly important for athletic performance and rehabilitating from injuries to your low back, shoulders, and neck. When stiff, it can put extra stress on each of these areas so mobilizing these joints can be very important. Our Favorite Thoracic Spine Mobility Exercises. Foam Roller Thoracic Spine Extensions Up first is foam roller...