10/16/2026
What does your jaw have to do with your back pain? More than you might think! 🦷
I just finished presenting a webinar for the Illinois Physical Therapy Association (IPTA), and I loved having the opportunity to share a topic I'm incredibly passionate about!
We explored how the position of the jaw and the way our teeth come together may influence posture, muscle activity, and potentially even symptoms beyond the head and neck.
One of the tools we discussed was the Aqualizer, a temporary intraoral appliance that can help us explore how changes in jaw positioning may affect the musculoskeletal system. This tool can be used by dentists and PT to help understand if the bite or occlusion is causing a descending effect or if a leg length difference is causing an ascending effect.
See the article I wrote with Bill Esser, PT and Dr. Ira Shapira on the AQUALIZER STUDY: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08869634.2022.2031169
After years of treating patients with TMJ disorders, headaches, neck pain, and complex postural dysfunction, I've learned how important it is to look at the body as an interconnected system.
My hope is to inspire more physical therapists to consider the craniofacial system in their evaluations and collaborate with dental professionals when appropriate.
Thank you, IPTA, for inviting me to share this work!
If you're a physical therapist or healthcare professional interested in learning more, you can find the webinar here:
👉 https://www.pathlms.com/ipta/courses/311265
Have you ever considered the connection between the jaw and the spine?
"Utilizing an Intraoral Aqualizer Appliance to Address Back Pain: A Potential Dental/Medical Approach" Earn 2 hours of CE! We invite you...
