Massage Therapy - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

jladams · 04-22-2003, 11:17 AM

Hi everyone,

I just started having some massage therapy done.(My father-in-law is a massage therapist). He does the thing where he finds the trigger points and holds pressure until they release. I guess it's called accupressure? Anyway, I had it done a couple times and was a little sore afterwards. My question is, how many times does it usually take before you start to notice a difference? Also, is it unusual for the muscles to tighten back up or spasm like a matter of a few hours later?

Thanks, jladams

CherylLynn24 · 04-22-2003, 12:05 PM

Hi jl,

My son's been going to a masso. for about 2 months. He'll come out saying he's about 10 percent better sometimes, but a few hours later, the muscles are all tight again. She did some deeper tissue massage on his neck about 2 weeks ago, and said it would be alittle sore for a day, but it REALLY hurt for a few days, so when we went back I told her to go easy on the neck and explained why. He hasn't had any worthwhile improvement from masso. but if he feels just a tiny bit better for a short while, it's worth it to me. Maybe it'll work better for you!

Cheryl

jladams · 04-22-2003, 12:36 PM

Thanks Cheryl,

How many times a week does he go?

CherylLynn24 · 04-22-2003, 12:48 PM

Hey,

He goes once a week.(it's costly, and ins. doesn't cover it) She did show me basicly how to massage the muscles for him in between. Considering how bad his pain is, it always puts a smile on his face when that day of the week comes. He refers to her as "the lady with the magic fingers." If I could afford it, I'd take him everyday!

Cheryl

plymouth · 04-22-2003, 02:20 PM

Hi,

Acupressure is very different from trigger point therapy.

Acupressure is used like acupuncture to balance the flow of chi energy along the meridians.

Trigger point therapy releases trigger points which are areas of low neurological activity that when stressed transform into areas of high neurological activity with referred symptoms to other parts of the body.

It's normal to be sore afterwards for some hours or a day. Soreness for more than a day indicates that the therapist worked too hard, too deep or too long. More is not better. Appropriate pressure is most effective. Sort of like goldilocks, just right!

It is also normal for ordinary massages to not give long lasting results. When the symptoms return quickly it usually means that there are undiagnosed perpetuating factors. Some of the more common perpetuating factors in TMJ are a forward head position, pelvic misalignments and leg length difference.

An experienced well-trained clinical or structural type of massage therapist would know how to assess and evaluate for perpetuating factors. One example is the St. John Method Neuromuscular Therapist, there are others.

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