Senior TMJ Physiotherapy in Melbourne — Expert Jaw Physio for Lasting Pain Relief

Jaw & Joint

Head & Neck

Functional Issues

Hands-on manual therapy is the foundation of TMJ physiotherapy. We use gentle joint mobilisation techniques to restore normal movement in the TMJ, reduce joint stiffness, and improve your ability to open and close your mouth comfortably. Intraoral massage targets the muscles inside the mouth that are often the primary source of jaw pain and tension.

External techniques address the masseter, temporalis, and pterygoid muscles — the key muscle groups involved in jaw movement. Gentle soft tissue massage and myofascial release help reduce muscle tension, break up adhesions, and restore normal muscle length and function.

Trigger points — tight knots within jaw and neck muscles — are one of the most common sources of TMJ pain and referred headaches. We use targeted pressure and, where appropriate, dry needling techniques to release these trigger points, providing rapid pain relief and restoring normal muscle function.

Dry needling involves inserting very fine needles into specific trigger points to release deep muscle tension that doesn't respond to conventional massage. Many patients experience significant pain reduction after just one or two dry needling sessions, making it particularly effective for acute TMJ flare-ups.

Specific jaw exercises are prescribed to improve jaw mobility, strengthen the muscles that stabilise the TMJ, and retrain proper jaw movement patterns. Programs begin with gentle range-of-motion exercises and progress to functional strengthening as your symptoms improve.

We provide a detailed home exercise program so you can continue your rehabilitation between appointments. Consistent home exercises are one of the most important factors in achieving lasting results from TMJ physiotherapy. We review and progress your exercises at each session.

Forward head posture — common in desk workers and phone users — significantly impacts jaw mechanics by altering the resting position of the lower jaw and increasing tension in the jaw and neck muscles. We assess your posture as part of every TMJ evaluation and provide targeted exercises and ergonomic recommendations to address postural contributors.

Workplace setup, sleep positioning, and daily postural habits all influence TMJ health. We help you identify and modify the specific postural factors that are contributing to your jaw dysfunction, supporting long-term recovery beyond the treatment room.

Dysfunctional breathing patterns — particularly mouth breathing and upper chest breathing — are closely linked to jaw tension and TMJ disorders. We assess your breathing mechanics and, where relevant, provide retraining exercises to promote nasal breathing and diaphragmatic breathing patterns that reduce jaw and neck tension.

Correcting breathing dysfunction often produces improvements in both TMJ symptoms and sleep quality, particularly for patients who also experience sleep-disordered breathing or snoring.

Ari Esterman is a dedicated TMJ physiotherapist specialising in non-pharmaceutical treatment for chronic jaw pain and dysfunction. He holds a Doctor of Physiotherapy and Bachelor of Health Science from Macquarie University (2015) and continues his professional development through specialised courses in temporomandibular disorder management.

Ari's approach focuses on long-term relief by addressing not just the jaw, but the interconnected systems of posture, muscle imbalance, breathing, and lifestyle habits that contribute to TMJ dysfunction. He works collaboratively with our dental team to ensure every aspect of your jaw condition is addressed.

Ari has particular expertise in treating patients with chronic TMJ pain that hasn't responded to previous treatment, stress-related jaw tension and bruxism, TMJ dysfunction associated with neck and postural issues, and post-dental or post-surgical jaw rehabilitation.