What accommodations can be made at work for individuals with TMJ disorders?

The TMJ No More™(The TMJ Solution) by Christian Goodman if you are suffering from the disorder of TMJ and problems related to tinnitus then The TMJ No More, written by Christian Goodman, can be very beneficial for you. Along with eradicating your health problems within a few days, it will also help in improving the quality of your life to a considerable level. This system is being used by more and more people all over the world to get rid of TMJ and tinnitus-related health problems within a few days just by doing some very easy and natural exercises.

What accommodations can be made at work for individuals with TMJ disorders?

Workers with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders may experience pain, discomfort, and other symptoms that may interfere with their ability to perform specific tasks in the workplace. Workplace accommodations may help alleviate these conditions and increase productivity. Some of the accommodations that may be possible for employees with TMJ disorders are:

1. Ergonomic Workspace Adjustments
Chair and Desk Position: Ensure that the employee’s chair provides adequate lumbar and neck support, which can reduce neck and jaw strain. A height-adjustable desk or an ergonomic chair can promote better posture and prevent additional discomfort.

Computer Setup: Adjust the position and height of the computer monitor, keyboard, and mouse to avoid straining the neck, shoulders, and jaw. An ergonomic mouse or a keyboard tray will avoid awkward positioning and prevent worsening TMJ symptoms.

Headset or Speakerphone: For individuals who have to make regular phone calls, providing a hands-free headset can minimize the need to hold the phone against the shoulder or ear, which could exacerbate TMJ pain.

2. Flexible Work Hours or Breaks
Frequent Breaks: TMJ disorders can cause jaw tension and pain, and therefore frequent breaks throughout the day can avert pain. These types of breaks could be relaxation breaks for the jaw, stretching breaks, or changes in postures.

Flexible Hours: When fatigue or pain builds up throughout the day, flexible work hours or the ability to take longer-than-usual breaks when necessary can enable the employee to manage symptoms best.

3. Modified Job Tasks
Limiting Jaw-Straining Activities: Certain activities, such as talking for a long time, chewing, or repetitive jaw-straining movements, can worsen TMJ disorders. Accommodations could be:

Limiting the frequency of phone calls or meetings, or creating virtual meetings to minimize jaw use.

Granting the employee shying away from tasks that require much chewing or loud talking (e.g., customer service work might be modified).

Alternate Duties: If certain duties exacerbate TMJ symptoms, it would be beneficial to assign alternative work or redistribute duties to fellow members. For instance, an employee can take on extra computer-focused or clerical duties if core duties involve a lot of speaking.

4. Pain Management Support
Access to Pain Relief: Employees may be granted access to items such as cold packs, heat packs, or break relief exercises to reduce tension and pain in the jaw.

Medication Support: Offering access to medications (e.g., anti-inflammatory medication or muscle relaxants) or specific therapies, such as oral splints, can help the employee relieve their symptoms. These accommodations may involve giving time for the employee to take medications at work or offering additional rest breaks where necessary.

5. Alternative Communication Methods
Email and Messaging: If speaking is difficult, providing other modes of communication such as email, instant messaging, or video conferencing with text-based communication alternatives can allow employees to continue performing their job without exacerbating their symptoms.

Written Reports: For employees who are engaged in work where continuous communication is needed, providing them with the option of submitting written reports or summaries rather than constant oral presentations can relieve the burden of work on their jaw and facial muscles.

6. Restructuring of Job or Altered Workload
Altered Workload: If the TMJ symptoms are severe, a lower workload or authorization to offload part of the job to other individuals could be required. This would avoid aggravating the condition and provide the employee adequate rest to deal with the symptoms.

Task Reassignment: If there are some tasks that are problematic, for example, working with heavy machinery or working in environments that exacerbate symptoms (e.g., stress or noise), temporary reassignment to an alternative job or work requiring less jaw use will allow the employee to manage their condition.

7. Stress Management Support
Stress Reduction Programs: Stress is often an inciting cause of TMJ disorders. Offering access to stress management programs, relaxation training, or even yoga or mindfulness classes during the workday can help employees manage stress, which may decrease TMJ-related symptoms.

Counseling or Therapy: If anxiety or stress is a causative factor, offering access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for counseling can be an effective support mechanism.

8. Modifications for Work-Related Travel
Reduced Travel Requirements: In cases where travel is required for the job, accommodations may include reducing the frequency of business travel or making travel accommodations while on the road, such as adding time for leisure, using comfortable modes of transportation (e.g., business-class seating or shortening long sitting times), and providing quiet spaces to rest.

9. Education and Training
Employee Education: Educating the employee about TMJ and work accommodations that can be provided will make them feel assisted. Supervisors and coworkers can also be provided with basic awareness training on TMJ so that they understand the challenges that the employee is facing and can assist even better.

10. Modification of Job Environment
Noise Reduction: Providing a less noisy working environment or noise-cancelling headsets to workers whose symptoms worsen due to intense levels of noise can reduce environmental stimuli responsible for causing jaw tension.

Comfortable Workspace: Having the workplace designed to be comfortable, ergonomically correct, with sufficient light, low glare on displays, and simple accessibility to needed equipment and tools, can reduce general strain and discomfort.
Facilitations for TMJ disorder workers aim to reduce pain, boost productivity, and provide an accommodating environment. With the provision of ergonomic modifications, flexible work time, job alteration, and entry to pain care services, employers can help TMJ disorder workers to remain functional without sacrificing the impact of the condition on activities of daily living.