Chiropractic Rehabilitation for Pain Relief From TMJ

Learn about the benefits of chiropractic rehabilitation for treating jaw pain and improving overall oral health from TMJ.

Abstract

This educational post explores the intricate world of Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction. This condition affects millions and often extends beyond the jaw to affect the neck, shoulders, and overall well-being. From my perspective as Dr. Alex Jimenez, and in collaboration with my esteemed colleague and Medical Director, Dr. Maria Guadalupe Cardenas, MD, I will guide you through the complexities of TMJ anatomy, the physiological underpinnings of dysfunction, and the latest evidence-based treatment approaches. We will delve into the critical role of the trigeminal nerve, the biomechanics of jaw movement, and how chronic stress and inflammation contribute to pain and dysfunction. This post highlights our integrative approach at Injury Medical Clinic, where we combine chiropractic care, functional medicine, advanced injection techniques, and medical oversight to provide comprehensive, patient-centered solutions. You will learn how chiropractic adjustments can restore alignment in the cervical spine and upper extremities, relieve referred pain, and improve TMJ function. We will also detail specific diagnostic methods, explain the rationale behind treatments like intra-articular injections, and show how our multidisciplinary team works together to create personalized care plans that address the root causes of TMJ disorders, not just the symptoms. Join me on this journey to understand how a holistic, evidence-based strategy can unlock lasting relief and restore optimal health.

Introducing Our Collaborative Care Model at Injury Medical Clinic

Hello, and welcome. I am Dr. Alex Jimenez. My journey in healthcare has been driven by a passion for understanding the intricate connections within the human body and finding the most effective ways to restore health. With a background that spans chiropractic (DC), advanced practice nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner (APRN, FNP-BC), and dual certifications in functional medicine (CFMP, IFMCP), I have dedicated my career to an integrative, evidence-based approach to patient care.

At my practice, Injury Medical Clinic PA in El Paso, Texas, we have cultivated a unique environment where different medical disciplines converge to provide comprehensive care. A cornerstone of our practice is my collaboration with Dr. Maria Guadalupe Cardenas, MD. Dr. Cardenas is a highly respected internist, board-certified in Internal Medicine, with over four decades of invaluable experience. She serves as our Medical Director and Collaborative Physician, providing essential medical oversight and enriching our clinical capabilities. Her NPI is #1164426749, and her Texas MD License is #J2933.

This multidisciplinary setup is not just a matter of convenience; it is a philosophical commitment to treating the whole person. Our team integrates:

• Medical Oversight (Dr. Cardenas): Ensuring all treatments meet the highest standards of medical safety and efficacy. Dr. Cardenas reviews complex cases, provides medical diagnoses, and oversees procedures that fall within the scope of medicine, such as prescription management and specific injection therapies.
• Chiropractic Care (Dr. Jimenez): Focusing on the biomechanical integrity of the musculoskeletal system, particularly the spine. We utilize precise adjustments to correct misalignments (subluxations) that can cause nerve interference and contribute to a wide range of health issues, including TMJ dysfunction.
• Functional Medicine: Investigating the root causes of chronic illness. We look beyond symptoms to understand the interplay of genetics, lifestyle, and environment, using advanced diagnostics to address issues like inflammation, hormonal imbalances, and nutritional deficiencies.
• Personal Injury and Rehabilitation: Specializing in the recovery from accidents and injuries, we design comprehensive rehabilitation programs that restore function, reduce pain, and prevent long-term complications.

Today, I want to take you on a detailed journey into a condition that beautifully illustrates the power of this integrative model: Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction. While often perceived as a localized jaw problem, TMJ issues are frequently intertwined with the neck, shoulders, and even systemic health. By combining our expertise, Dr. Cardenas and I can offer patients care that addresses these complex connections, leading to more profound and lasting outcomes.

A Clinical Glimpse: Performing a TMJ Injection

To ground our discussion in a real-world clinical context, let’s walk through a common procedure we perform for acute TMJ pain: an intra-articular injection. Just recently, on September 2, 2026, a patient presented with significant aching in their jaw joint, a classic symptom of TMJ inflammation. My immediate goal was to provide rapid pain relief and reduce inflammation within the joint capsule.

Here is a narrative of the procedure, explaining the “why” behind each step:

“Okay, we’re going to do the injection now on the TMJ, the temporomandibular joint,” I explained to the patient, ensuring they were comfortable and informed. “Go ahead and open your mouth, please, and close. Open one more time. Good. And close.”

This simple act of opening and closing the jaw is a critical diagnostic step. I visually and palpably assess the joint’s range of motion, listen for any clicking or popping (crepitus), and watch the movement of the mandibular condyle. The patient’s ability to perform this movement also helps me pinpoint the precise injection site.

“All right. So, we’re going to take the posterior approach to the joint. With your mouth open, do this. Open your mouth again.” As the patient opens their jaw, a remarkable biomechanical event occurs. The head of the mandible, or the condyle, slides forward and downward along a structure called the articular eminence. This movement is essential for wide mouth opening.

“If you can see that sulcus there, close it and open again. Right there is the approach entry point that we need to take.” That “sulcus,” or small depression that appears just in front of the ear’s tragus when the mouth is open, is our target. It’s a temporary anatomical window.

“So close your mouth for a moment. When you open your mouth, the head of the mandible slides forward. And opens up the rear of the joint, the posterior aspect of the joint. Otherwise, there’s no joint space. The joint space is there, but you cannot access it. This is a crucial point. In a closed-mouth position, the condyle sits snugly within the glenoid fossa of the temporal bone. The joint space is minimal and protected by bone, making a posterior entry impossible and unsafe. Forward translation of the condyle during jaw opening creates the necessary space in the posterior part of the joint for a needle to be inserted safely without hitting bone or critical structures. This space is known as the bilaminar zone or retrodiscal tissue area.

Next came preparation for the injection, where sterility is paramount. “So, just cleaned you with alcohol, cleaned you with Betadine, a little bit more Betadine to help prevent any infections.” We use a two-step cleansing process. We use alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) first to degrease the skin and remove surface contaminants. We then follow with Betadine (povidone-iodine). This powerful antiseptic provides a broader, more sustained antimicrobial effect. It significantly reduces the risk of introducing bacteria into the joint, which could lead to a serious condition called septic arthritis.

“And now we’re going to do the injection. We are not going to use the ethyl chloride spray, or else it will run down.” Ethyl chloride is a vapo-coolant spray often used as a topical anesthetic to numb the skin before an injection. However, because the injection site on the face is vertical and close to the ear canal and hair, the spray can be difficult to control. It might run into the ear or freeze unintended areas, causing discomfort. In this case, the precision of a swift needle insertion is preferred over the potential complications of a topical spray.

“Okay, get things here. Okay, go ahead and open your mouth. One, two, three. Ouch.” I guide the patient through needle entry with a clear countdown. The “Ouch” is the patient’s brief, expected reaction to the needle piercing the skin and, more significantly, the highly innervated joint capsule.

“Okay, right at the joint capsule. Does that hurt?” I ask, holding the needle in place. This question serves two purposes. First, it confirms I am in the correct location. Pain at this stage often indicates the needle is stimulating the sensitive capsular tissue. Second, it gauges the patient’s real-time comfort level.

“Is that hurting at all right now?”

“Not now,” the patient replied. The initial sharp pain subsides as the needle passes through the capsule into the joint space.

“Let’s do it again a little bit more. I actually felt it just go into the joint capsule.” The sensation of a needle “popping” through a fibrous layer like the joint capsule is a distinct tactile feedback for an experienced clinician. It confirms entry into the intra-articular space, ensuring the medication will be delivered exactly where it’s needed—into the synovial fluid to bathe the inflamed joint surfaces.

“Can you feel any fullness in the joint?” I asked as I began to inject the medication (typically a combination of a local anesthetic like lidocaine and a corticosteroid like Kenalog). The feeling of fullness or pressure is a positive sign. It indicates the fluid is filling the small, enclosed space of the joint, displacing the synovial fluid and slightly expanding the capsule. This confirms the medication is being deposited intra-articularly and not into the surrounding muscle or soft tissue.

“A little,” the patient confirmed.

“Put a little pressure on this spot. You can close your mouth,” I instructed as I withdrew the needle. Applying gentle pressure helps to prevent bleeding or bruising at the injection site and can help disperse the medication within the joint.

“Here we go. Okay. Done. I believe so. Let me get a Band-Aid on it now. Yeah. Pretty much done. Probably could just put a spot Band-Aid on there, but I got the big Band-Aid right there. And that is good.” A simple bandage protects the puncture site from contamination as it heals.

The final and most important step is the immediate post-procedure assessment.

“Okay. Now, does that hurt right now?”

“No pain,” the patient reported. This immediate relief is due to the local anesthetic that was part of the injection cocktail. It provides a diagnostic and therapeutic benefit. If the pain disappears, it strongly confirms that the joint itself was the primary pain generator.

“Right now, press over the area with your finger, and open your jaw a few times. Does that hurt?” I have the patient actively use the joint to see if the pain with movement is gone.

“Was it hurting when you came in here?”

“It was aching. Yeah.”

“And it’s not aching now?”

“No, not really.”

“Excellent. Okay, we are done.”

This rapid cessation of an aching pain that was present just minutes before is a powerful indicator of a successful procedure. The anesthetic provides immediate comfort, while the corticosteroid begins working over the next 24-48 hours to provide longer-lasting anti-inflammatory effects. This injection is a bridge—it calms the acute fire, allowing us to implement our broader, long-term strategies involving chiropractic, physical rehabilitation, and functional medicine.

Deconstructing the Temporomandibular Joint: Anatomy and Biomechanics

To understand TMJ dysfunction (TMD), we must first appreciate the joint’s remarkable complexity. The TMJ is one of the most unique and constantly used joints in the human body. It is a ginglymoarthrodial joint, a term that reflects its dual functions: ginglymoid (hinge-like rotation) and arthrodial (sliding or gliding).

Key Anatomical Components

• Mandibular Condyle: The rounded knob at the top of the mandible (lower jaw). It is the “ball” in the ball-and-socket analogy, although the TMJ is far more complex than a simple ball-and-socket.
• Glenoid Fossa (or Mandibular Fossa): This is the concave depression in the temporal bone of the skull where the condyle rests when the jaw is closed. It forms the “socket.”
• Articular Eminence: A prominent bony ridge located just anterior (in front) of the glenoid fossa. This structure is critical for jaw opening. The condyle must glide down and forward onto this eminence for the mouth to open wide. A steep or flat eminence can predispose an individual to joint problems.
• Articular Disc: This is the “star” of the TMJ show. It’s a small, fibrous disc made of dense fibrocartilage, positioned between the condyle and the glenoid fossa. Its primary functions are to:

• • Absorb Shock: It acts as a cushion, absorbing the immense forces generated during chewing (which can exceed 150 pounds per square inch).
  • Improve Joint Congruency: The biconcave (hourglass) shape of the disc helps the rounded condyle fit more smoothly against the flatter fossa and eminence.
  • Facilitate Complex Movements: The disc divides the joint into two separate synovial compartments—an upper and a lower joint space. This separation allows for the distinct rotational and translational movements to occur simultaneously.

• Joint Capsule: A fibrous ligamentous sac that encloses the entire joint. It is lined with a synovial membrane that produces synovial fluid. This fluid lubricates the joint surfaces, reducing friction, and provides nutrients to the avascular cartilage of the condyle and disc. The capsule is richly innervated, which is why inflammation of the capsule (capsulitis) is a primary source of TMJ pain.
• Ligaments: Several ligaments stabilize the joint, including the temporomandibular ligament, which prevents excessive forward, backward, and lateral movement of the condyle.
• Muscles of Mastication: The TMJ does not work in isolation. A powerful group of muscles controls its movement:

• • Masseter: The primary chewing muscle, responsible for elevating the mandible (closing the jaw).
  • Temporalis: A large, fan-shaped muscle on the side of the head that also elevates the mandible.
  • Medial Pterygoid: Assists in closing the jaw.
  • Lateral Pterygoid: This muscle is uniquely critical. Its superior head helps stabilize the articular disc. In contrast, its inferior head is the primary muscle responsible for protruding the jaw and opening the mouth by pulling the condyle and disc forward. Spasm or dysfunction in the lateral pterygoid is a very common cause of TMD.

The Intricate Dance of Jaw Movement

Let’s break down what happens during a simple action like opening your mouth:

1. Initial Opening (Rotation): For the first 20-25 millimeters of opening, the movement is almost pure rotation. The condyle rotates like a hinge within the lower joint compartment (between the condyle and the disc). The disc itself remains relatively stable in the fossa.
2. Wide Opening (Translation): To open the mouth wider, a second movement must occur. The condyle and the articular disc, moving together as a condyle-disc assembly, slide (translate) forward and downward out of the glenoid fossa and onto the articular eminence. This gliding motion happens in the upper joint compartment (between the disc and the temporal bone).

This coordinated two-phase movement allows the wide range of motion needed for speaking, yawning, and chewing.

What Goes Wrong? The Pathophysiology of TMJ Dysfunction

TMJ Dysfunction is not a single diagnosis but an umbrella term for a group of disorders affecting the joint and the muscles of mastication. We can broadly categorize them into three types:

1. Myofascial Pain: The most common form of TMD, involving pain and discomfort in the muscles that control jaw function. This often manifests as a dull, aching pain that can radiate to the temples, neck, and shoulders.
2. Internal Derangement: This refers to a mechanical problem within the joint itself, typically involving a displaced articular disc. A common scenario is an anteriorly displaced disc with reduction, where the disc slips forward when the jaw closes and “clicks” or “pops” back into place when the patient opens their mouth. In more advanced cases, the disc can become permanently displaced without reduction, leading to a “closed lock” where the patient cannot open their mouth fully.
3. Degenerative/Inflammatory Joint Disease: Conditions like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis can affect the TMJ, causing cartilage breakdown, bone spurs (osteophytes), and chronic inflammation (synovitis).

The Role of the Trigeminal Nerve

You can’t discuss TMD without highlighting the trigeminal nerve (Cranial Nerve V). This massive sensory nerve supplies the face, teeth, gums, and, crucially, the TMJ capsule and the muscles of mastication. The trigeminal nerve has a large nucleus in the brainstem with extensive connections to other cranial nerves and, most importantly, to the sensory nerves of the upper cervical spine (C1, C2, C3).

This convergence of nerve signals in the brainstem is known as the trigeminocervical complex. It is the physiological basis for the strong clinical connection between jaw problems and neck problems. TMJ irritation can send pain signals through the trigeminal nerve, which the trigeminocervical complex then processes. The brain can misinterpret these signals as originating from the neck, head, or face, leading to:

• Tension-type headaches or migraines
• Referred pain to the ear, sinuses, or teeth
• Neck pain and stiffness (cervicalgia)

Conversely, dysfunction in the upper cervical spine—a common issue addressed by chiropractic care—can irritate the cervical nerves. These signals travel up to the trigeminocervical complex, and the brain may perceive them as jaw or facial pain, even if the TMJ is structurally healthy. This is why a patient might have jaw pain that actually originates in their neck. This intricate neural wiring underscores why a holistic approach that assesses both the jaw and the neck is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

The Chiropractic Connection: Restoring Structural and Neurological Integrity

As a chiropractor, my primary focus is on the relationship between structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system). When it comes to TMD, the connection to the cervical spine isn’t just theoretical; it is a clinical reality I see daily.

The Biomechanical Link: Head Posture and Jaw Position

Your head position directly influences your jaw. Consider the common issue of Forward Head Posture, where the head juts forward in front of the shoulders. This posture, often caused by prolonged computer use, “text neck,” or past injuries like whiplash, creates a cascade of biomechanical compensations:

1. Increased Strain on Neck Muscles: For every inch your head moves forward, its effective weight on your cervical spine increases by about 10 pounds. The muscles at the back of your neck (suboccipitals, upper trapezius) must contract constantly to hold your head up against gravity, leading to chronic tightness, trigger points, and pain.
2. Altered Mandibular Position: As the head drifts forward, jaw geometry changes. The suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles in the front of the neck pull the mandible backward and downward, and this posture stretches them. This retruded jaw position places abnormal stress on the TMJ, compressing the joint’s posterior structures, including sensitive retrodiscal tissues.
3. Muscle Imbalance: Forward head posture forces the muscles of mastication to work harder to maintain a closed-mouth resting position, leading to hyperactivity and fatigue in muscles like the masseter and temporalis.

This chronic strain can be a primary driver or a significant contributing factor to both myofascial pain and internal derangement of the TMJ.

How Chiropractic Care Helps TMD and Its Comorbidities

Our chiropractic approach to a patient with TMD is multifaceted, extending beyond the jaw itself to address the entire kinetic chain.

• Cervical Spine Adjustments: The cornerstone of our chiropractic treatment is the specific adjustment of the cervical vertebrae, particularly the atlas (C1) and axis (C2). By restoring proper alignment and motion to these segments, we can:

• • Reduce Nerve Irritation: Alleviating pressure on the spinal nerves that feed into the trigeminocervical complex, thereby calming the neural “cross-talk” that generates referred pain to the jaw and head.
  • Improve Head Posture: Correcting spinal misalignments is the foundation for restoring a neutral head posture. This reduces the chronic strain on the neck and jaw muscles.
  • Restore Muscle Balance: A properly aligned spine allows the surrounding muscles to function efficiently without chronic spasm or weakness.

• Upper Thoracic Spine and Rib Cage Mobilization: The neck does not sit in isolation. The upper back (thoracic spine) is its foundation. Stiffness in this region often perpetuates forward head posture. We frequently adjust the upper thoracic vertebrae and ribs to improve mobility, allowing the shoulders to retract and the head to move back into a more neutral position.
• Shoulder and Scapular Dysfunction: TMD pain often radiates to the shoulders, and conversely, shoulder problems can affect neck posture and, by extension, the jaw. The upper trapezius muscle, which commonly harbors trigger points, attaches to the clavicle, scapula, and the base of the skull. Tension in this muscle directly impacts neck mechanics. Our care often includes:

• • Myofascial Release: Techniques like Active Release Technique (ART) or Graston Technique to break up adhesions and trigger points in the trapezius, levator scapulae, and rhomboid muscles.
  • Scapular Stabilization Exercises: Teaching patients exercises to strengthen the muscles that hold the shoulder blades in a healthy position, which provides a stable base for the neck.

• Direct TMJ Mobilization and Myofascial Work: While cervical adjustments are often the primary intervention, we also work directly on the jaw. This can include:

• • Intra-oral Techniques: With a gloved hand, we can directly access and release tension in the medial and lateral pterygoid muscles, which are often inaccessible from the outside.
  • TMJ Mobilization: Gentle, specific manual techniques to improve mandibular condyle movement and encourage proper tracking.
  • Soft Tissue Therapy: Applying massage, trigger point therapy, or instrument-assisted techniques to the masseter and temporalis muscles to reduce hypertonicity and pain.

By addressing the structural and neurological dysfunctions in the neck, upper back, and shoulders, chiropractic care plays a critical role in alleviating the biomechanical stresses that perpetuate TMD. This creates a healthier environment for the jaw to function, often reducing pain and improving mobility even before direct TMJ treatment.

Our Integrative and Functional Medicine Approach: Looking Deeper

While chiropractic care addresses the crucial structural component, and injections can manage acute inflammation, a truly comprehensive approach must also consider the systemic factors that contribute to pain and dysfunction. This is where our functional medicine expertise becomes invaluable.

Chronic pain is rarely just a local issue. It often reflects systemic imbalance, particularly chronic inflammation. At Injury Medical Clinic, we investigate the root causes of this inflammation.

Key Areas of Functional Medicine Investigation for TMD

• Systemic Inflammation: We use advanced blood tests like C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and ESR to measure systemic inflammation. More importantly, we look for the triggers of that inflammation:

• Diet: The Standard American Diet, high in processed foods, sugar, and inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids, drives chronic inflammation. We guide patients towards an anti-inflammatory diet rich in whole foods, vegetables, fruits, and healthy omega-3 fats.
• Gut Health: A condition known as leaky gut (increased intestinal permeability) can allow food particles and bacterial toxins to enter the bloodstream, triggering a body-wide immune response and inflammation that can manifest in the joints, including the TMJ. We may use stool analysis to assess the gut microbiome and identify dysbiosis or infections.
• Hidden Infections: Chronic, low-grade infections (e.g., in the gums, sinuses, or gut) can be a persistent source of inflammation.

• The Stress-Pain Cycle: Psychological and emotional stress has a profound physiological effect. When you are stressed, your body releases hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones trigger the “fight or flight” response, leading to:

• • Muscle Clenching (Bruxism): Many people unconsciously clench or grind their teeth, especially during sleep, when under stress. This places enormous, sustained pressure on the TMJs and fatigues the muscles of mastication.
  • Increased Pain Sensitivity: Chronic stress can lead to a phenomenon called central sensitization, where the central nervous system becomes hypersensitive and amplifies pain signals. A minor stimulus that wouldn’t normally hurt can feel intensely painful.
  • Systemic Inflammation: Chronic high cortisol levels can, paradoxically, dysregulate the immune system and promote inflammation.

Our approach includes stress management techniques such as mindfulness, breathing exercises, and biofeedback. We also assess adrenal function through saliva or urine testing (e.g., the DUTCH test) to understand an individual’s stress response pattern and provide targeted support with adaptogenic herbs and nutrients.

• Nutrient Deficiencies: Certain nutrients are critical for joint health and inflammation control. We may test for and address deficiencies in:

• • Magnesium: Often called the “relaxation mineral,” magnesium is crucial for muscle function. Deficiency can lead to muscle cramping and spasms, including in the jaw muscles.
  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids: These fats (found in fish oil) are potent natural anti-inflammatories.
  • Vitamin D: Plays a key role in immune modulation and has been linked to chronic pain states when deficient.
  • B Vitamins: Essential for nerve function and energy metabolism in muscle cells.

By identifying and addressing these underlying systemic issues, we can reduce the body’s overall inflammatory burden, manage the physiological effects of stress, and provide the raw materials needed for tissue repair. This functional medicine approach complements and enhances the effects of our structural and procedural interventions.

The Power of Collaboration: A Unified Treatment Plan

Let’s return to our patient who received the TMJ injection. The injection was Step One: crisis management. It broke the acute pain-and-inflammation cycle. What happens next is a perfect example of our integrative model in action.

1. Medical Follow-Up (Dr. Cardenas): The patient will have a follow-up to assess the corticosteroid’s effectiveness. Dr. Cardenas will manage any medical aspects of their care, review their overall health history for red flags (like signs of systemic autoimmune disease), and ensure the treatment plan is safe and appropriate from a medical standpoint.
2. Chiropractic and Rehabilitation (Dr. Jimenez): Now that the acute pain is controlled, the real work of correcting the underlying biomechanics can begin. My treatment plan would likely include:

• • A thorough spinal and postural evaluation to identify contributions from the cervical and thoracic spine.
  • A series of gentle chiropractic adjustments to restore proper alignment and nerve function.
  • A customized rehabilitation program with specific exercises to:

• • • Stretch the tight muscles (masseter, temporalis, upper trapezius).
    • Strengthen the weak muscles (deep neck flexors, scapular stabilizers).
    • Improve jaw mobility with gentle range-of-motion exercises.
    • Teach postural awareness and ergonomic strategies for work and daily life.

• Functional Medicine Investigation (Dr. Jimenez): I would have a detailed conversation with the patient about their diet, stress levels, sleep patterns, and other lifestyle factors. Based on their history and symptoms, we might decide to run lab tests to investigate:

• • Inflammatory markers.
  • Nutrient status.
  • Hormonal balance, especially stress hormones.

The results would inform a personalized plan involving dietary changes, targeted nutritional supplements (like magnesium, omega-3s, or curcumin), and stress-reduction strategies.

This comprehensive, three-pronged approach ensures that we are not just chasing symptoms. We are addressing the patient’s condition from every relevant angle: medically, structurally, and biochemically. This is the essence of true integrative healthcare and the key to achieving not just temporary relief, but lasting health and resilience. My collaboration with Dr. Cardenas ensures the patient receives the best of both worlds—the structural and holistic focus of chiropractic and functional medicine, combined with the diagnostic rigor and oversight of internal medicine.

Conclusion: A New Paradigm for Jaw Health

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction is a complex and often debilitating condition that sits at the crossroads of dentistry, medicine, and chiropractic. Too often, patients are bounced between specialists, and receive fragmented care that addresses only one piece of the puzzle. The jaw is not an island; it is intimately connected to the neck, the nervous system, and the body’s overall health

At Injury Medical Clinic, we have built our practice on this principle of interconnectedness. By uniting Dr. Cardenas’s expertise in internal medicine with my background in chiropractic and functional medicine, we offer a truly holistic, integrated model of care. We combine advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, like targeted injections, with foundational treatments such as chiropractic adjustments and personalized lifestyle interventions. We look at the latest evidence-based research to guide our hands-on clinical work.

Our goal is to take our patients on an easy-to-understand journey from pain and dysfunction to relief and recovery. We empower them with knowledge about their own bodies, address the root causes of their suffering, and provide them with the tools to build a foundation for long-term health. If you are struggling with jaw pain, headaches, or neck and shoulder tension, I encourage you to consider an approach that looks at the bigger picture. Your path to healing may lie in the powerful synergy of integrative care.

References

• Armijo-Olivo, S., Pitance, L., Singh, V., Neto, F., & Thie, N. (2016). Effectiveness of Manual Therapy and Therapeutic Exercise for Temporomandibular Disorders: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Physical Therapy, 96(1), 9–25.
• Bogduk, N. (2005). Clinical Anatomy of the Lumbar Spine and Sacrum (4th ed.). Elsevier. (While this reference is for the lumbar spine, Bogduk’s work is foundational for understanding spinal biomechanics and referred pain, with principles applicable to the cervical spine.)
• Calixtre, L. B., Moreira, R. F. C., Franchini, G. H., Alburquerque-Sendín, F., & Oliveira, A. B. (2015). Manual therapy for the management of pain and limited range of motion in subjects with signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 42(11), 847–861.
• Fernández-de-las-Peñas, C., & Mesa-Jiménez, J. A. (Eds.). (2017). Tension-Type and Cervicogenic Headache: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
• Harrison, D. E., Harrison, D. D., Betz, J. W., Janik, T. J., Holland, B., & Colloca, C. J. (2002). Increasing the Cervical Lordosis with Chiropractic Biophysics Seated Combined Extension-Compression and Transverse Load Cervical Traction with a Posture Chair. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 25(3), 138-153.
• Institute for Functional Medicine. (2020). Functional Medicine Matrix. IFM.
• Okeson, J. P. (2019). Management of Temporomandibular Disorders and Occlusion (8th ed.). Mosby.
• Pierson, M. J. (2011). The trigeminocervical complex and its role in head and neck pain. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 111(suppl_2), 10–14.
• Sevier, T. L., & Wilson, J. K. (2000). Treating lateral epicondylitis. Sports Medicine, 30(5), 375–380. (This is an example of a reference for soft tissue techniques that can be applied to masticatory muscles).
• Von Piekartz, H., & Lüdtke, K. (2011). Effect of treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in patients with cervicogenic headache: a single-blind, randomized controlled study. Cranio: The Journal of Craniomandibular Practice, 29(1), 43–56.

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