Jaw joint located just in front of the ear; contributes to opening, closing and jaw translation.
ZONE 1 · REGION 01Head, Scalp
Head, Scalp
& Jaw/TMJ
Region ini memerlukan touch yang respectful dan screening yang teliti. Fokus course ialah functional jaw movement, surrounding soft tissue, symptom behaviour dan safe decision-making — bukan dental atau neurological diagnosis.
REGIONAL OUTCOMESOrient key structuresObserve jaw movement/functionSet appropriate treatment objectiveRecognise when not to treat
TEMPORALTMJMASSETERFUNCTIONAL ORIENTATION
Know the landmarks — respect the boundaries.
Prominent jaw-closing muscle at the side of the jaw.
Broad muscle over temporal region contributing to jaw closing/retraction.
Sensitive region with important neurovascular structures; contact requires consent, appropriate training and conservative technique.
Observe function before interpreting symptoms.
Comfort, range, control and symptom response.
Compare movement without forcing end range.
Chewing, speaking, yawning and comfortable mouth opening.
Local jaw discomfort, muscle tension, movement limitation or clicking may be reported; these findings alone do not establish diagnosis.
Simple functional assessment.
INTERVIEWonset · trauma · dental history · function
→OBSERVEcomfortable opening/closing
→COMPAREmovement & familiar symptoms
→SCREENred flags / scope
NO FORCED TESTING
Jangan paksa mouth opening, manipulate jaw atau gunakan clicking semata-mata sebagai diagnosis. Dental pain, locking, trauma atau unusual symptoms may require appropriate dental/medical assessment.
Build from the finding.
Example objective: improve comfortable jaw opening for eating/yawning without increasing familiar symptoms.
Comfortable supported position, explain contact, obtain consent.
Gentle self-controlled jaw movement within tolerated range when appropriate.
Conservative external contact to appropriate surrounding muscles only within training and consent.
Simple comfortable movement/relaxation strategy linked to function.
Retest the original function.
Record movement quality and familiar symptom response.
Better, same or worse? Decide whether to maintain, modify or refer.
Defer routine treatment and seek appropriate assessment for significant facial/head trauma, sudden severe or unusual headache, acute neurological signs, facial weakness/speech change, unexplained significant swelling, fever/systemic illness with concerning local symptoms, suspected dental infection, jaw dislocation/true locking, or other presentation outside scope. Emergency-pattern symptoms require urgent medical help.