Virginia Physical Therapy Ebook Continuing Education

85

Trigger Point Therapy for Headaches, Migraines, and TMJD: Summary

• Light Swedish techniques - “make nice” and flush/effleurage the area • Stretch (if applicable) - hold for 30-60 seconds or 4-10 breaths Remember To Protect Your Body

General Contraindications: • Fever • Acute migraine • Anti-coagulant medications

• Muscle relaxants • DVT (untreated) Contraindications of neck: • Cardiac arrhythmia • Carotid sinus hypersensitivity • History of/risk of arteriosclerosis (caution)

Table 4: Muscle Anatomy and Trigger Point Charts of Head and Face Muscle & Image # for TP Origin (Lease Moveable) Insertion (Most Moveable) Signs and Symptoms Action

Trigger Point Activation • Chronic mouth breathing • Forced contractions (eating ice) • Gum chewing clamping of jaw (mouthpiece) • Bruxism • Whiplash • Hit with ball • Prolonged jaw immobilizations • FHP • Gum chewing • Nail biting • Prolonged

Masseter

• Zygomatic arch

• Mandible

• TMJD • Ear pain • Molar tooth pain • Cheek pain • Earaches/ tinnitus

• Elevates

mandible (strong

enough to bite finger off-straight through the bone)

Temporalis • Temporal fossa and fascia

• Coronoid process of mandible

• HA and

• Elevates

migraines • Temporal or • Upper and lower molar head pain • Back of head pain • Temporal HA eyebrow pain • Cheek pain • Throat pain • Drooling in sleep • Earaches/ tinnitus • TMJD • Throat and front of neck pain

and retracts mandible

Medial Pterygoid & Image 9

• Lateral

• Mandible

• Forward head posture

Unilateral: Lateral deviation to opposite side Bilateral: Elevates and

pterygoid plate of sphenoid bone

• Thumb sucking • Gum chewing • Emotional tension

• Maxilla

protracts mandible

Powered by