Most physical therapists will treat TMJ pain. Almost none will ever encounter a full bilateral TMJ replacement—paired with mandibular advancement and upper palate expansion. When that rare case appeared, there was no rehab playbook… so this clinician built one.
What listeners will learn:
- How TMJ replacement compares (and doesn’t) to hip and knee replacements
- Why outcomes research exists—but rehab pathways don’t
- How to apply total joint principles to a jaw joint
- What to do when surgical restrictions limit “normal” movement
- The role of nutrition, SLPs, and interdisciplinary care
- How lived experience changes clinical decision-making
Why it matters:
This episode isn’t really about TMJ—it’s about how clinicians think when evidence is thin and responsibility is high.
Guest:
Katie Berry — sports & orthopedic clinician, adjunct professor, and OMPT fellow-in-training.
Hands On Hands Off: Manual Therapy & Orthopedic Physical Therapy (AAOMPT)