Ascend Physical Therapy

TMJ/TMD in Richmond

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Find Lasting Relief from TMJ and TMD in Richmond, VA

Jaw pain, headaches, or difficulty chewing shouldn’t be part of your daily life. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ/TMD) may be the cause. This condition affects millions of people, yet it often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed as migraines or dental issues.

At Ascend Physical Therapy, we specialize in targeted TMJ/TMD treatment to provide lasting relief. Instead of offering short-term fixes, our approach addresses the root causes of your symptoms—helping you regain comfort, restore jaw function, and prevent future flare-ups.

How to Recognize TMJ/TMD Symptoms

TMJ/TMD can be misinterpreted as other conditions, such as migraines, toothaches, or ear infections. If you experience any of the following symptoms, physical therapy may help:

Chronic jaw, face, neck, or headache pain that doesn’t go away.
Clicking, popping, or grinding noises when opening or closing your mouth.
Jaw locking or difficulty opening your mouth fully.
Ear pain, dizziness, or ringing not related to infection.
Teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism), especially at night.

Because TMJ/TMD symptoms often worsen over time, early intervention is key to preventing long-term joint damage and chronic discomfort.

Personalized TMJ/TMD Treatment in Richmond, VA

Every TMJ/TMD case is unique, which is why a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. At Ascend Physical Therapy, we create customized therapy plans tailored to your symptoms, lifestyle, and recovery goals.

1. Hands-On Therapy for Pain Relief
Our hands-on approach focuses on relieving jaw and neck discomfort through targeted techniques. Manual therapy helps release tight muscles, joint mobilization improves alignment and function, and gentle stretching restores range of motion while reducing tension. These therapies work together to alleviate pain, enhance mobility, and promote lasting relief.

2. Strengthening & Functional Training
Our therapy focuses on improving jaw stability and function through targeted exercises. Therapeutic exercises help stabilize and support jaw movement, postural retraining corrects muscle imbalances that contribute to jaw pain, and neuromuscular re-education prevents abnormal jaw mechanics. These techniques work together to promote proper movement, reduce discomfort, and support long-term relief.

3. Long-Term Prevention & Tension Reduction
We focus on sustainable strategies to prevent recurring jaw pain and tension. Relaxation techniques help reduce stress-related jaw clenching, while education on proper habits minimizes unnecessary strain. Custom home exercise plans support ongoing improvement, ensuring long-term relief and better jaw function.

By addressing the underlying causes of TMJ/TMD, our treatment helps you eliminate pain, restore function, and prevent future episodes.

Frequently Asked Questions About TMJ/TMD Treatment

What is the difference between TMJ and TMD?
TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint itself, while TMD (temporomandibular disorder) describes dysfunction in the joint, surrounding muscles, or nerves.

Can TMJ/TMD go away on its own?
Some mild cases improve over time, but many require treatment to prevent chronic pain, joint deterioration, or worsening symptoms.

Is TMJ/TMD a serious condition?
Yes. If left untreated, TMD can lead to chronic pain, restricted jaw movement, poor sleep, and long-term joint dysfunction.

What happens during my first therapy session?
Your initial evaluation includes a comprehensive assessment of your jaw movement, muscle tension, posture, and medical history. Based on our findings, we develop a personalized treatment plan, and many patients experience relief after their first session.

Take the First Step Toward TMJ/TMD Relief

Don’t let jaw pain, headaches, or difficulty chewing impact your daily life. At Ascend Physical Therapy, we provide expert, hands-on care to help you regain comfort, restore function, and achieve long-term relief.

Call (804) 476-8061 today to schedule your first session, or visit Ascend Physical Therapy in Richmond, VA to begin your recovery. Get back to pain-free living with expert TMJ/TMD treatment at Ascend Physical Therapy.

To say Camille is Amazing is an understatement. I was at a Christmas tree lot recently and realized that I was wrangling and holding up trees with my Left Arm. This is significant because I’ve had an injury in my left shoulder that goes back at least a year. In the beginning of the year I went to a different PT practice and after a month of going nowhere, I drove 40 minutes to Ascend to see Camille. I/we made more progress in the first session than the month of sessions elsewhere! My shoulder pain had gotten bad enough that I had to significantly reduce my own client load (I’m a bodyworker). In the last quarter of this year I’ve been able to see double the amount of clients I could see in the first quarter. I can pull a shirt off and on overhead without pain. I can reach the top shelf without pain. I can work on my clients without pain. I can lift heavy things without risk of injury and pain. My core is stronger, I move better, I am up and down off the floor without having to baby my shoulder or feeling weak. And apparently I can wrangle Christmas tress with no repercussions. This woman saved me from a life of crippling inactivity and restriction. I can actually work on mobility and strength now – not just surviving and rehabbing a labrum tear. It’s been worth every out of pocket penny. If you want to actually get better, learn how to move more functionally, and get stronger, this is the place and Camille is the one. This is truly physical therapy. Focused. One on one. An individual treatment plan based on your body, not a protocol. I cannot recommend her enough! In fact I recommend her to many of my own clients. If you want results, you will get them here.

Leslie Mueller

Absolutely the best physical therapy experience I’ve ever had! The team at Ascend Physical Therapy goes above and beyond — they’re knowledgeable, attentive, and truly care about helping you get back to feeling your best. From the moment you walk in, you feel welcomed and supported. Camille took the time to explain everything clearly, tailor my sessions to my specific goals, and celebrate every bit of progress along the way. She spent so much time getting to know me and helped me get to the NYC marathon safely and pain free. She’s treated my daughter as well during pain she was having with her rock climbing team and gave her the same care, compassion and one on one treatment. I recently went back to her office with some shoulder pain and with the help of Camille Allison and Matt I was feeling better in no time. My daughter and I are stronger, more confident, and moving pain-free thanks to Ascend. I can’t recommend Camille and her team enough to anyone looking for top-notch care and real results!