Classical singers face many risks in their profession which includes getting injuries. One known injury for classical singers is Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome. This affects the preparation, practice, and performance of many classical musicians around the world. This makes studying such a musician’s injury important. Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome is best described and analyzed by it’s causes, symptoms, risks, duration, medical assistance available and treatment methods.
Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome is an injury to the jaw joint know as the Temporomandibular Joint or (TMJ). This joint is on either side of the jaw, connecting the lower jaw (mandible) to the skull (temporal bone). It is made up of muscles, blood vessels, bones, and nerves. Temporomandibular Joint or (TMJ) Syndrome is defined by Mayo Clinic as “a type of temporomandibular disorder, that can cause pain in your jaw joint and in the muscles that control jaw movement.” In layman’s terms, a type of injury that causes pain in your jaw.
There are two causes of (TMJ) Syndrome: Microtrauma and Macrotrauma. Microtrauma is known as an overuse injury. It happens from frequent and repeated use of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints. Common types of microtrauma for the (TMJ) Syndrome are misalignment or trauma to the teeth or jaw, teeth grinding, poor posture, stress or anxiety, and inflammatory disorders like arthritis. Macrotrauma is defined as a single traumatic or forceful blow or event which results as a sprain, joint dislocation, and/or ruptured tendon.
(TMJ) Syndrome’s symptoms vary from pain to stiff movement, sometimes even including emotional distress and tinnitus. The most obvious symptom of (TMJ) Syndrome is jaw pain. This is normally a dull ache which is most often accompanied by clicking or popping noise when moving the jaw. Another sign is ear pain and headaches, specially headaches in the temple area. Because the (MTJ) wraps across the cheek to the temple and above the ear, often tension headaches, migraines and pressure in ears result. As well, stiffness and tenderness when trying to move the jaw are symptoms. This stiffness and tenderness can also radiate down the neck and back. Severe cases have the jaw locking. Muscle spasms, tinnitus, hearing loss and emotional distress are the last of the symptoms. These four symptoms can come and go as the severity of pain and stiffness changes.
Some people are at higher risk of getting (TMJ) Syndrome then others. Gender is the first on the list of risk factors, women are more likely to get (TMJ) Syndrome then men. People between the ages of 18-44 have an increased risk. Another increased risk is poor posture or holding phones between the cheek and shoulder. Playing an instrument often calls for different postures, neck bending and control over the jaw and mouth, because of this, musicians are more likely to have a (TMJ) Syndrome than people who complete other physically demanding work.
(TMJ) Syndrome tends to fall into two categories for duration. These categories are acute and chronic (TMJ) Syndrome. Acute (TMJ) Syndrome lasts anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. The symptoms disappear once the cause of the injury or discomfort has resolved. Chronic (TMJ) Syndrome lasts for much longer. Symptoms and discomfort can be ongoing with episodes of sharp and/or dull pain that occurs over months to even years.
Health care professions diagnose (TMJ) Syndrome. They will often determine if a patient has (TMJ) Syndrome through educated questioning, physical examination and health care technologies. Educated question occurs in the form of a verbal questions and responses which if found to be useful, are recorded by the doctor. This is often conducted by a person’s primary care physician on a regular medical clinic visit. Physical examination can be conducted by few different professionals. These professionals are a person’s primary care physician, dentist or a physiotherapist. These doctors will check the muscles in and around the jaw, jaw movement, and base pain sensory. Technologies in the medical field may need to be used to rule out other injuries and determine the extent of damage. Three technologies often used are x-rays, ultrasounds, and blood work equipment. X-rays of the jaw and it’s surrounding areas shows the extent of muscle injury or can even show if there is bacteria living in the sinus passages. Ultrasounds can be used to see the jaw in motion, this is helpful because it shows the inside of the (TMJ) rather than just the outside and surrounding tissues. Finally, blood work equipment. Getting blood work done helps rule out most of all other causes of pain in the jaw. Doctors use this is there are not completely sure if a person is suffering from (TMJ) Syndrome or some other ailment.
After being properly diagnosed, treatment options will vary from injury to injury. However, all treatment options should include a team approach. A team approach means involving two or more healthcare professionals, some of which are specialist in their field. Theses healthcare professionals could include, but are not limited to, dentists, ENT surgeons, pain specialists, physiotherapists, and primary care physicians.
Home remedies are also an excellent recovery resources because they are normally readily available and maintainable for a very small cost. Over the counter medication like anti-inflammatory and pain killers are often used to lessen the discomfort and swelling of an injury. Anti-inflammatory teas and natural muscle relaxers are another good option. A diet of soft foods is not only easy to maintain, it adds in the avoidance of reinjury. Soft foods like bananas, mashed root veggies, and dairy products are recommended. Most junk food is also soft, but for the best results, the healthy the food the better. Avoidance of exact strenuous chewing also helps a person avoid reinjuring themselves. Reducing stress and applying warm compresses keep the jaw relaxed and ready to heal.
In conclusion, the causes,
symptoms, risks, duration, medical assistance available, and treatment methods
of Temporomandibular Join Syndrome are vital to identify because they help us
understand and describe the syndrome. As a possible injury for musicians,
learning about (TMJ) Syndrome is important.
Resources: Information Bases
- Micheli LJ. Common painful sports injuries: assessment and treatment. Clin J Pain. 1989; 5 Suppl 2:S51-9; S59-60.
- https://www.summitmedicalgroup.com/news/fitness/Overuse-Injuries/
- https://www.emedicinehealth.com/temporomandibular_joint_tmj_syndrome/article_em.htm#what_is_temporomandibular_joint_tmj_syndrome
- https://www.medicinenet.com/temporomandibular_joint_syndrome_tmj/article.htm
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tmj/symptoms-causes/syc-20350941
- https://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/talk/complications/temporomandibular_disorder/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/tmj-exercises
- https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/temporomandibular-disorders-tmd#1
- https://watermark.silverchair.com/kqx042.pdf?token=AQECAHi208BE49Ooan9kkhW_Ercy7Dm3ZL_9Cf3qfKAc485ysgAAAl4wggJaBgkqhkiG9w0BBwagggJLMIICRwIBADCCAkAGCSqGSIb3DQEHATAeBglghkgBZQMEAS4wEQQMshoe-HCDdblF7sejAgEQgIICEcZ15hP0M3D-aj8ffSx8DZ2jn82kX5mQN9Ud5t8y8SDCxxAe4ckKuo70U620yzAsQuJ3uXvnCPlo-VmSS9nChPP75OT_KIiiugITAWRxiX-X0jVqzFCREsTvh7tfxblIIiDNbNrVj0-BlVMvzfjgh7tXjRi6i_WgiZBPU2jf2gz7KSwcvLV8vlShu6v-2UW3a27Hyrt07qE4qrGztrU9qBwlTqWjcfqvy2xSfzEBDOkpyHfakX9t-reJ7ZoMu3LCPCt_ehid5O9grEBxhDHWsmaKAMJKywHIP0UcWZB9rtWNcSmEvNg5jG7UO1IhybNakh4K_sLoyOFvaPvvpU2ZsNaNpMoFw-eB4BonDOk4_aFcJzrM-X-g6ra9Ub3UL2jXMJ9Jz0Hc3qr8yU6ogKMkRyfQj2Xk2z4DkbNXi1J-hQAjELM-AfvBUmWfAM3qjtQ4Mbub04koEhPjLEn-z3hXEORnXknuRLmkZ1NAPwUTH-uLHUbvmAbArqH5kmUYlUjwBtMcLlgSnN69mnVT-W8ee6fEjtFTtgz2naf8wys2aUqEKqz2XjXvd3tD3UeGZVPZvI_h0CjlGRSTSOyxn7DwFD07BHQ5mZXyMMzuREeQa9N8iKV4mkDAg6OVoaIxKM6LDk9ltwBhAsovg0mscyDdBADhPa7TOm5MQXEJjJcp39Wdpwpzz06PPxRKRvDdMLW1ZMo
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