TMJ is short for temporomandibular joint. This is the joint where your jaw bone connects to your skull. It is one of the most used joints in the body and can withstand a lot of repetitive force. The most common forces acted upon the TMJ are with chewing and talking. When you have pain, popping or clicking, or inability to close or open your mouth fully, you are diagnosed with TMD, temporomandibular disorder. There are over 30 disorders that are included under TMD. The most common disorders occur due to problems with the disc in the middle of the joint or with the muscle surrounding the jaw and face. With a disc issue, people will complain of popping and clicking in the joint or inability to close or open their mouth all the way. With a muscular issue, there will mostly be pain involved, along with the possibility of headaches and even ear or tooth pain. There are many ways that a TMD specialized PT can help improve someone’s pain or discomfort associated with their diagnosis. PT’s will use hands on techniques, such as soft tissue mobilization and joint mobilizations to improve the way the jaw and muscles surrounding the jaw are able to operate. A physical therapist will also incorporate postural exercises and jaw muscle retraining exercises to ensure the muscular system as a whole is operating at optimal function.