Physiotherapy
@TheOldBank
Expert Physiotherapy in Dulwich to relieve pain, restore movement, and support your recovery.
As part of our commitment to joined-up treatment, we are delighted to offer a Physiotherapy clinic at Dentistry@TheOldBank for patients who are suffering with jaw, head, neck, shoulder or upper back conditions.
The clinic runs on Wednesday mornings at the practice and can be booked online or by calling our reception team on:
Physiotherapy is particularly suitable for patients who clench or grind their teeth, who suffer jaw, head and neck pain from ‘parafunctional’ habits, or who need support with sleep issues related to oral or neck conditions. In collaboration with either our dentists or referring dentists, our gentle physiotherapist can improve and correct problems which may be acutely painful or low grade, for example:
- Jaw pain (TMD)
- Headaches related to tension, neck or jaw
- Whiplash
- Spondylosis (wear and tear)
- Torticollis (wry neck)
- Neck pain and /or stiffness
- Postural-related symptoms
Physiotherapy helps restore function and manage symptoms through movement and exercise, manual therapy, education and advice.
It is a registered healthcare profession and takes a holistic approach to health & wellbeing. Integral to this is involving the patient in their own care from expectations, goal setting and empowerment.
On your first visit, a detailed assessment will be completed to clarify symptoms & establish goals. From this, best-practice treatments are done. This may include joint & soft tissue manual techniques, education, advice & specific exercise.
The frequency of Physiotherapy appointments will depend on your presentation, goals & best practice. Appointments will include treatment and advice, and you will be given exercises to complete at home.
Benefits of physiotherapy include:
- Reduced pain
- Increased function
- Increased strength
- Increased flexibility
- Prevention of re-injury
- Improved posture
Temporomandibular joint Disorder (TMD)
Your jaw joints, found in front of your ears, are called the Temporomandibular Joints (TMJ).
The joint connects your lower jaw to your head and is similar to a ball and socket joint. However, it is also unique in it’s movement such that it slides as well as hinges. This is due to a disc which helps to control these movements.
The disc is usually responsible for clicking and ‘popping’ sounds which patients may experience in the jaw.
Considering how often we open & close our mouths, the joint is consistently used throughout the day & night. Temporomandibular Disorders is a collective term for problems that affect the joint & musculoskeletal structures (e.g. ligaments, muscles, tendons and connective tissue) & surrounding area. You may see it written as TMJD or TMD.
Symptoms include:
- Difficulty opening your mouth
- Popping, clicking or grating of your jaw point
- Pain at the jaw area, or generalised discomfort or jaw ache
- Headaches
- Muscular pain & tightness at the jaw and neck
- Earache and Tinnitus – ears may feel ‘full’
There are many things that you can do to relieve your TMD symptoms. Physiotherapy is termed as ‘conservative care’ or “non-surgical care” and a high majority of TMD’s will recover with conservative measures alone.
Physical health will often be linked with how we feel and what we do, therefore it is important that you consider & address all factors that may be contributing to your TMD.
Your Physiotherapist
Colette Owen
Bsc Msc HCPC MCS Physiotherapy
Colette is a highly experienced Physiotherapist, specialising in musculoskeletal presentations, of which TMJ is one. She is a member of ACPTMD (Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Temporomandibular Disorder) and Vice Chair of ACPOHE (Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Occupational Health & Ergonomics).
Colette has worked within the NHS, private practice, academia, corporate and sports industries, at clinical, managerial and leadership levels.
(HCPC Registration number PH50757)
We work with most insurance providers:
