Jaw exercise apps can help users strengthen or relax the muscles in their jaw and face These apps usually provide guided exercises aimed at improving jaw function, reducing jaw pain, or preventing issues like teeth grinding (bruxism) or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
There are some good apps that can support users but they are best used under the supervision of a healthcare provider, who can advise you on the best exercises for your situation. These apps can be a good addition to face-to-face input, but should not seen as a complete replacement. Here are some tips when using jaw exercise apps.
Tips when using jaw and face exercise apps
Do (✔)
- Talk with your physiotherapist, doctor or dentist about your needs. Everyone’s situation is different, and what might be a suitable for one person could be unsuitable for another.
- Before using exercise videos on apps, check with your physiotherapist, dentist or doctor if they are suitable for you. Sometimes exercises need to be changed to suit you. How often you do the exercises and how many repetitions will also need to be checked. Your healthcare provider will help you plan an exercise program, with gradual progress, making sure your body has time to recover between exercises.
- Use an app for tracking your progress to keep you going, but remember not to push yourself too hard. You may risk further injury or muscle strain and a longer recovery time if you do too much.
- Use an app to keep track of your symptoms and your management plan. Graphs and reports from apps can be useful to discuss with your healthcare provider.
- Be careful reading discussion boards or group chats. Some apps have these so users can share their experiences. These aren't usually monitored by a health professional so the advice or suggestions may not be safe or effective.
Don’t ( ✘)
- Rely on apps to make a diagnosis.
- Make changes to your treatment from an app without checking with your healthcare provider first.
- Make changes to your exercise form or technique without checking with your healthcare provider, as this can lead to injury or make your condition worse.
- Ignoring pain, continuing with exercise while you have sharp or worsening pain can lead to further injury. It's important to tell the difference between normal discomfort with exercise and pain from doing too much.
