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Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction
and
Emotional Stress
Physiological effects of emotional stress on the body and its effects on the TMJ
Effects on the musculoskeletal system
Fasciae
Numerous fascias are related to TMJ. The full description can be found in the Appendix A.
Emotional stress causes increase in the muscle tone.(Rugh et al., 1993)
Cathie explains that the force of abnormal tension can be transmitted through the fascia. There are important connections between neuromascular and fascial structures that are commonly involved in TMD such as: stylomastoid foramen for the exit of facial nerve; mandibular nerve within the fascia of the pterygoid muscles and their attachment to the skull base. (Cathie, 1952)
It can be easily seen how the variety of TMD symptoms in emotional stress can be caused by disturbance to the above structures. Good examples pertaining to the structures mentioned above could be facial muscle spasm and pain as a result of facial nerve irritation, compression of the mandibular nerve causing abnormal masticatory muscle tone and facial pain, thus further facilitating the vicious cycle of TMD and emotional stress.
Fascia is also highly influenced by various hormonal axes. For example, somatotrophic hormones have a direct effect upon connective tissue cells. Hans Selye has demonstrated that during emotional stress somatotrophic hormones help mineralocorticoid hormones stimulate inflammation in connective tissues.(Selye, 1978) This example shows how during emotional stress, in addition to mechanical irritation explained above, the pain levels of TMD can significantly increase as a result of a general inflammatory response.
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