Our Services

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJD)

Teeth clenching, jaw pain and teeth grinding are common symptoms of TMJD (dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint or the joint of your jaw) and can lead to difficulty opening your mouth to eat or speak. Tension in the muscles that support the jaw can also cause frequent headaches.

Our team of expert physical therapists at PT@acac can alleviate excess muscle tone and restore normal jaw function so that you can return to a pain free, normal life. You will also receive advice on appropriate diet modifications, ergonomics and exercises that will support better posture and help prevent your pain from returning.



For more information, schedule with one of our specialists:

Ann DeJong

Ann DeJong
PT - Spine, Jaw/TMJ, Vertigo/BPPV, Hip, Shoulder, General orthopedics, Dry needling Certified, Graston technique
PT

Specialization: Orthopedic related injuries including pre and post-surgical rehabilitation, TMD (jaw pain), cervical dysfunctions and balance disorders. Joint Replacements

Anne DeJong always knew she would work in the field of health care. Her interest in science and sports coupled with her joy in working with people and helping them led her to center on Physical Therapy.

She graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1989 with a Bachelor of Physical Therapy.

She worked for more than 20 years in a variety of settings including home care, hospital rehabilitation settings, orthopedics and general medical surgical.

For the past 15 years she has worked primarily in outpatient orthopedics in clinics in the United States and Singapore.

Anne enjoys working with patients of all ages. Her specialization now is in orthopedic related injuries including pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation, TMD (jaw pain), cervical dysfunctions, balance disorders and joint replacements.

In her spare time, she likes to hike with her dogs, play or coach volleyball, and watch her children participate in their sports and activities.

email: elisabethd@acacpt.com

Stephen Jackson

Stephen Jackson
PTA - General orthopedics, Sports injuries, Cervical/Thoracic spine, Post surgical rehab, Trunk/core stabilization, Jaw/TMJ
PTA

Specialization: General orthopedic rehabilitation, sport-related injuries, post-surgical rehabilitation, trunk/core stabilization

He enjoys working with general orthopedic and sports-related injuries, post-surgical rehabilitation and trunk/core stabilization. He also works with neck, jaw and TMJ pathologies. He is always willing to learn more about the body in order to help patients live their best.

When he is not working, Stephen enjoys volunteering as a youth soccer coach with SOCA, playing various sports, hiking with his wife and cocker-spaniel and enjoying the great outdoors. He is also a Charlottesville native and highly recommends the local breweries, vineyards and restaurants.

email: stephenj@acacpt.com

Christine Dean

Christine Dean
DPT - General orthopedics, Sports injuries, Post-surgical rehab, Jaw/TMJ, Neck
DPT

Specialization: General orthopedic rehabilitation, cervical spine and jaw disorders, shoulder dysfunction, and patient education on lifestyle change

Christine Dean was always interested in medicine and wanted to be able to spend time one on one with her patients to allow for hands on treatment and so she could share what she knew to improve the quality and health of their lives. Physical Therapy came up as the right choice for her.

Chris earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Ithaca College and completed her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Shenandoah University in 2012.

Chris has been a physical therapist for 40 years, working in a variety of settings. She began her career treating neurological, orthopedic, acute care, and pediatric patients in hospital settings. For the last 30 years, she has worked primarily in orthopedics. She now specializes in general orthopedic rehabilitation, cervical spine and jaw disorders, shoulder dysfunction and patient education on lifestyle change.

When she is not working, Chris loves to do anything that makes her laugh. She plays tennis, exercises, skis, goes wine-tasting with her husband and adult children, travels, reads, and hangs out with friends and family.

email: chrisd@acacpt.com

Meredith Richard

Meredith Richard
PTA - General orthopedics, Jaw/TMJ, Neck, Shoulder, Sports injuries
PTA

Specialization:General orthopedics, TMJ, cervical spine and shoulder disorders

Meredith loved playing basketball and field hockey, loved being active and a part of a team. Born and raised in Charlottesville she has worked for acac since 2012 working as a personal trainer and part of the p.r.e.p.® (Physician Referred Exercise Program). That coupled with her interest in anatomy and physiology led her to a career in physical therapy.

Meredith received a B. S. in Health Assessment and Promotion from JMU in 2012 and she then went on to receive a Associates degree in Physical Therapy Assistant from South University in 2018.

email: meredithr@acacpt.com

Rebecca Schock

Rebecca Schock
MPT - General orthopedics, Sports injuries, Post-surgical rehab, Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) therapy, Jaw disorders, Shoulder, Hip, Spine
MPT

Specialization: General orthopedics including post surgical care and sports related injuries with special interest in shoulder impingement/rotator cuff rehabilitation, hip, knee, spine and jaw disorders, vestibular rehab/BPPV, BFRT (Blood Flow Restriction Training). SFMA/FMS certified

Rebecca was active in sports growing up, including field hockey, snow skiing, and competitive figure skating. She always wanted to know how to get over an injury as fast as possible to return to sport. She also witnessed her brother experience a spinal fusion at a young age, and therefore was introduced to Physical Therapy as a profession early on.

She received her B.S.Ed. in Sports Medicine from the University of Virginia (Go Hoos!) in 1992, and then moved to Atlanta to receive her MPT from Emory University in 1995. In 1997 she returned to Charlottesville and worked first in inpatient rehabilitation, then directed a brain injury center, and then moved on to a short stint at a long-term care facility. She returned to outpatient orthopedics 15 years ago, and enjoys diagnosing and treating various conditions to improve functional mobility and quality of life.

Rebecca enjoys spending time with her daughters (when they are available!), running, hiking, skiing, traveling, and hanging out with friends.

email: rebeccas@acacpt.com

Ann DeJong

Ann DeJong
PT - Spine, Jaw/TMJ, Vertigo/BPPV, Hip, Shoulder, General orthopedics, Dry needling Certified, Graston technique

Specialization: Orthopedic related injuries including pre and post-surgical rehabilitation, TMD (jaw pain), cervical dysfunctions and balance disorders. Joint Replacements Anne DeJong always knew she would work in the field of health care. Her interest in science and sports coupled with her joy in working with people and helping them led her to center on Physical Therapy. She graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1989 with a Bachelor of Physical Therapy. She worked ...
Stephen Jackson

Stephen Jackson
PTA - General orthopedics, Sports injuries, Cervical/Thoracic spine, Post surgical rehab, Trunk/core stabilization, Jaw/TMJ

Specialization: General orthopedic rehabilitation, sport-related injuries, post-surgical rehabilitation, trunk/core stabilization He enjoys working with general orthopedic and sports-related injuries, post-surgical rehabilitation and trunk/core stabilization. He also works with neck, jaw and TMJ pathologies. He is always willing to learn more about the body in order to help patients live their best. When he is not working, Stephen enjoys volunteering as a youth soccer coach with SOCA, playing...
Christine Dean

Christine Dean
DPT - General orthopedics, Sports injuries, Post-surgical rehab, Jaw/TMJ, Neck

Specialization: General orthopedic rehabilitation, cervical spine and jaw disorders, shoulder dysfunction, and patient education on lifestyle change Christine Dean was always interested in medicine and wanted to be able to spend time one on one with her patients to allow for hands on treatment and so she could share what she knew to improve the quality and health of their lives. Physical Therapy came up as the right choice for her. Chris earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Thera...
Meredith Richard

Meredith Richard
PTA - General orthopedics, Jaw/TMJ, Neck, Shoulder, Sports injuries

Specialization:General orthopedics, TMJ, cervical spine and shoulder disorders Meredith loved playing basketball and field hockey, loved being active and a part of a team. Born and raised in Charlottesville she has worked for acac since 2012 working as a personal trainer and part of the p.r.e.p.® (Physician Referred Exercise Program). That coupled with her interest in anatomy and physiology led her to a career in physical therapy. Meredith received a B. S. in Health Assessment and Promotio...
Rebecca Schock

Rebecca Schock
MPT - General orthopedics, Sports injuries, Post-surgical rehab, Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) therapy, Jaw disorders, Shoulder, Hip, Spine

Specialization: General orthopedics including post surgical care and sports related injuries with special interest in shoulder impingement/rotator cuff rehabilitation, hip, knee, spine and jaw disorders, vestibular rehab/BPPV, BFRT (Blood Flow Restriction Training). SFMA/FMS certified Rebecca was active in sports growing up, including field hockey, snow skiing, and competitive figure skating. She always wanted to know how to get over an injury as fast as possible to return to sport. She also w...