During the clinical functional analysis all structural changes are determined. This looks at the muscles of mastication (chewing muscles) and the muscles that assist them, the jaw joint tendons, ligaments, the entire joint capsule, as well as, the disc in particular. This sometimes includes testing of borderline movements and loading.
Pain or limited movements are often signs of TMD.
We determine a loading stress vector (direction of power) on the basis of stimulus testing. The aim is to compensate this loading. With the result of this testing, a structural diagnosis can be made. This diagnosis can sometimes be verified with visual diagnostics such as CT or MRT scans.
Not only the immediate structures are examined, but also structures that are further away, such as the mobility of the cervical vertebrae. Another important point is the position of the spinal column, as well as, the pelvis. Often this diagnosis needs to be made with a team of experts.