In most cases, no. Most states allows for "Direct Access," meaning you can come directly to a physical therapist for an evaluation and treatment without seeing a doctor first. This gets you on the road to recovery faster. However, if you are using insurance there are some specific plans that do have requirements regarding signatures or referrals. If your insurance has specific requirements, we will let you know before your first visit.  (Medicare does NOT require a referral to get started with therapy).

During your first visit, you'll undergo a comprehensive evaluation. We'll discuss your medical history, assess your current condition, and perform a physical examination. This helps us understand your specific needs and goals. Based on this information, we'll develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique situation. You'll also have the opportunity to ask any questions and discuss any concerns you might have about your treatment.

Yes. When appropriate, we use manual therapy techniques like joint mobilization, soft-tissue work, dry needling, and directional loading strategies. These help decrease pain quickly so you can move more easily and progress into strengthening.

In many cases, yes. Most pain improves with the right combination of movement correction, strength training, and hands-on care. We’ll also tell you honestly if imaging or a surgical consult is appropriate.

Yes. One of our main goals is education. You’ll understand exactly what is causing your pain, why it’s happening, and how to fix it. Knowing the root cause reduces fear and speeds up recovery.

If pain limits your workouts, daily activities, sleep, or quality of life—even slightly—PT is the right next step. A short evaluation can determine exactly what’s going on and what your fastest path forward looks like.

TMJ pain can come from several sources including joint irritation, disc displacement, muscle tension along the jaw and neck, teeth grinding (bruxism), poor posture, or limited jaw mechanics. A physical therapist’s job is to identify your specific driver so treatment can be targeted, calming your symptoms and restoring normal jaw function.

TMJ pain is more serious if you experience jaw locking, difficulty opening your mouth fully, significant swelling, worsening headaches, numbness, persistent ear pain, or changes in your bite. Even if your symptoms are mild, early evaluation helps prevent chronic jaw dysfunction and long-term irritation.

Complete rest rarely helps TMJ pain. Gentle, guided jaw movement—paired with proper neck and posture alignment—usually leads to faster relief. A physical therapist will show you safe mobility exercises and relaxation strategies while helping you avoid positions that increase jaw irritation.

Yes. Chronic TMJ pain often persists because the underlying issues—jaw mechanics, muscle imbalance, posture, clenching, or cervical mobility—were never addressed. Physical therapy specializes in fixing these root causes so even long-standing TMJ pain can improve.

Absolutely. TMJ-related nerve irritation often comes from muscle tension, joint compression, or inflammation around the trigeminal nerve. Physical therapy reduces pressure on irritated tissues, restores healthy movement, and teaches you strategies to prevent flare-ups.

Untreated TMJ pain can lead to worsening jaw stiffness, chronic headaches, increased clenching, difficulty chewing, ear symptoms, and even long-term joint degeneration. Early treatment helps restore jaw mechanics and prevents chronic dysfunction.