The TMD Physio Standard

Seven commitments

What you can hold us to

1. 01

   Regulated, accountable care

   Your care is led by a physiotherapist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (MCSP). Registration means published standards of conduct, ongoing professional development and an independent route for any concern to be heard. You can check registration yourself on the HCPC's public register at any time.

2. 02

   Jaw, neck and nerves, assessed together

   Your first appointment follows the structure of the DC/TMD. It includes a detailed history, jaw movement measured in millimetres, and an examination that aims to reproduce your familiar pain. We screen the trigeminal and facial nerves and examine the neck where your history and symptoms indicate. Jaw symptoms can overlap with neck pain, headache, ear symptoms and dental problems, so we assess these together and identify causes that need further investigation.

3. 03

   Treatment grounded in published research

   Our approach reflects what systematic reviews and guidelines support. That means education and self-management, targeted exercise, selected manual therapy, and approaches that address the impact pain has on daily life. We link to the sources behind this Standard so you can read them yourself. We also describe each treatment at its true strength of evidence.

4. 04

   Clear goals, reviewed at every visit

   Together we agree what matters to you, such as eating comfortably, opening without catching or having fewer headaches. We record a starting point using recognised measures of pain and jaw function. At each visit we review progress against those goals. If things are not changing as expected, we say so openly and adjust the plan rather than simply continuing.

5. 05

   Onward referral when another specialist is needed

   Not every facial pain, headache or ear symptom comes from the jaw. When findings suggest a dental, ENT, neurological or other medical cause, we refer you to a dentist, ENT specialist, neurologist or your GP and explain why. This may happen before treatment begins or alongside physiotherapy. Either way, you will know who to see next and what to ask.

6. 06

   Technology where the evidence supports it

   The clinic offers NESA neuromodulation, low-level laser therapy, dry needling and TMJ Velvet radiofrequency and diathermy. These are adjuncts, not the foundation of care. We suggest an adjunct when published evidence supports its use for your assessed condition, and we explain what it aims to do. None of them is ever a condition of treatment.

7. 07

   Plain information on what each treatment can and cannot do

   Before you agree to anything, we explain in plain language what a treatment aims to do and what it is unlikely to change. We also cover any risks and the reasonable alternatives, including doing less. For neck treatment, this includes appropriate safety screening and informed consent. Clear expectations help you make decisions that suit you.