Understanding CMD: Why the right knowledge often helps better than any treatment

Many people live with pain, tension or diffuse symptoms without knowing where they come from. Tinnitus, back pain, dizziness, a lump in the throat, facial pressure, digestive problems - they can all have the same, often overlooked cause: craniomandibular dysfunction, or CMD for short.

CMD does not describe a disease in the classic sense, but a functional disorder in the interaction between the jaw joints, muscles and body statics. It is estimated to affect up to 10% of the population, but in many cases remains undetected. This is because the symptoms rarely occur where the actual cause lies.

Author and software developer Markus Schall has dedicated a new, easy-to-understand article to this topic. In it, he explains why CMD is so difficult to diagnose, how it manifests itself - and why the right knowledge about the correlations is often the decisive step towards improvement.

What exactly is CMD - and why do people often not notice it?

The temporomandibular joint is one of the most complex joints in the human body. It is connected to the entire musculoskeletal system via muscles, fascia and nerves. Even the slightest misalignment in the bite, years of teeth clenching or stress can cause the system to become unbalanced.

The result is muscular tension that spreads through the whole body - from the head and neck to the pelvis. Those who are unaware of this often look for the cause in the wrong place: an orthopaedist, ENT specialist or neurologist.

Because each specialist only looks at "their" area, CMD is often overlooked. Many sufferers go through years of visits to the doctor without anyone recognizing the connection.

"I myself went from pillar to post for almost two years," says Markus Schall. "No doctor was able to help me - until I ended up with a holistic dentist who diagnosed CMD. Only then did everything suddenly make sense."_

Symptoms that hardly anyone correctly classifies

CMD can manifest itself in very different ways - and is therefore difficult to pin down.

Typical symptoms of CMD are

* Tension in the neck, shoulders or back
* A feeling of lump or pressure in the throat
* Tinnitus, ear pressure, facial pain
* Headaches, dizziness, drowsiness
* Sleep disorders and exhaustion
* Digestive problems or pelvic misalignment

What makes CMD so insidious is the interaction between body and mind. Stress, tension or inner restlessness can exacerbate teeth clenching, while chronic poor posture permanently irritates the autonomic nervous system. As a result, many sufferers develop diffuse anxiety or the feeling that "something is wrong with me".

"CMD is not static damage, but a dynamic misunderstanding in the body," says Schall. "You have to understand that the body is not sick, but dysregulated."

The decisive factor: knowledge

Instead of focusing on individual symptoms, Schall advocates a different approach: understanding instead of treating. Because only when you recognize that CMD is a functional disorder can you take targeted countermeasures - through warmth, relaxation, body awareness and, if necessary, an individually adapted splint.

"The most important tool is knowledge," he explains. "I have gotten into the habit of taking regular hot showers - along the entire body axis, from the head to the neck and back to the pelvis. Afterwards, I immediately notice that something loosens up. As simple as it sounds, it works because it has a muscular effect."_

In addition to these everyday tips, Schall emphasizes the importance of education. Only those who understand how their own body works can interpret the many diffuse signals correctly - and lose the fear that there is something bad behind every symptom.

"Many people have pain and don't know why. This creates stress - and stress in turn increases CMD. When you understand what is happening, calmness sets in. And calm is the prerequisite for healing."_

Modern support: AI as an aid to reflection

One modern aspect that Markus Schall addresses in his article is the possibility of using artificial intelligence for self-observation. Systems such as ChatGPT can help to structure symptoms and recognize correlations.

"I regularly use AI to ask myself questions," says Schall. "Which symptoms occur when? When do they feel better? AI can help train your own body awareness - without being a substitute for medical diagnostics."_.

The article thus combines classic empirical values with modern technology - and shows how you can become active yourself using simple means.

An article for anyone who wants to understand what is happening in their body

Markus Schall's new article is aimed at people who have been suffering from inexplicable complaints for a long time - and who would like more guidance. In clear, understandable language, he describes how CMD throws the body out of balance, which symptoms are typical and why it is worth taking a closer look.

The aim is to encourage those affected and provide them with tools to better understand their own situation.

"Sometimes all it takes is the knowledge that the body is just malfunctioning - not broken," says Schall. "This knowledge changes everything."

Further information and book reference

The full article on CMD is now available on Markus Schall's website.

There, readers will also find further content on the topic of CMD as well as information on Schall's book "CMD - The forgotten problem of modern medicine" published by M. Schall Verlag, which covers the entire topic in even greater detail: from symptom recognition and interrelationships in the body to holistic treatment approaches and modern tools such as AI for self-reflection.

Frequently asked questions about CMD

* What exactly is CMD and why is it so difficult to recognize?
CMD stands for "craniomandibular dysfunction" - a malfunction in the interaction between the temporomandibular joint, chewing muscles and body system. As the jaw is connected to the entire body via nerves and muscles, dysfunctions in this area can make themselves felt elsewhere: in the neck, back, digestion, even in the psyche. This is precisely why CMD is so often overlooked - it disguises itself behind symptoms that seem to have nothing to do with each other.
* How does the new article differ from other health information on CMD?
The article is not a technical treatise, but a comprehensibly written text based on experience and information. It is aimed at sufferers who have been suffering from unexplained symptoms for years and finally want to understand what is happening in their bodies. The article combines personal experience with medical background - and uses many examples to show why knowledge about CMD is the most important key to relief.
* Why is it so helpful to know where certain symptoms come from?
Ignorance creates uncertainty - and uncertainty creates stress. If you have pain but no explanation, you tend to think catastrophic thoughts ("Is it serious?"). On the other hand, if you know that tense jaw muscles are responsible for the lump in your throat, you immediately feel relief. The knowledge is reassuring - and this inner reassurance has a direct effect on the body system. This is why understanding is often the first step towards improvement.
* Is CMD a "fashionable disease" or really a relevant health problem?
CMD is not a fad - on the contrary. It has been known for decades, but is often neglected in everyday life because it does not belong to a single medical specialty. It affects dentistry, orthopaedics, neurology and psychosomatics - but none of these areas covers the whole picture. This new article aims to close this gap and show that CMD is a very real but under-recognized issue.
* Why are many people affected without realizing it?
Because the symptoms are often very unspecific: Tension in the neck, clicking in the jaw, ringing in the ears, chronic fatigue or back pain. These complaints are often considered individually - and nobody asks about the overarching pattern. CMD works in secret. Only when you start to look at your symptoms in context do you recognize the system behind them. This article helps you do just that.
* What role does artificial intelligence play in connection with CMD?
AI is not a diagnostic tool - but a useful aid to self-reflection. The article explains how AI (such as ChatGPT) can be used to learn to structure symptoms, recognize patterns and ask specific questions. This new option does not replace a medical consultation, but it can help people to understand themselves better - and to have more targeted conversations with healthcare professionals.
* Who is the press release and the accompanying article aimed at?
Anyone who is struggling with unexplained physical complaints and feels that their previous treatments are not working. But also to anyone interested in finding out more about the connection between the body and tension. The press release aims to arouse curiosity about a topic that affects many - but hardly anyone knows about.
* Is there further material available if you want to delve deeper into the subject?
Yes - the article is part of a more comprehensive educational campaign. Markus Schall has also published a book on the subject: "CMD - The forgotten problem of modern medicine". It covers the entire topic in detail, contains practical tips, food for thought and experience reports and is suitable for both sufferers and therapists who want to think outside the box.

M. Schall Verlag
Hackenweg 97
26127 Oldenburg
Germany

https://markus-schall.com
Herr Markus Schall
info@schall-verlag.de

Schall-Verlag was founded in 2025 by Markus Schall - out of a desire to publish books that provide clarity, stimulate reflection and consciously avoid the hectic current of the zeitgeist. The publishing house does not see itself as a mass marketplace, but as a curated platform for content with attitude, depth and substance.

The focus is on topics such as personal development, crisis management, social dynamics, technological transformation and critical thinking. All books are created out of genuine conviction, not market analysis - and are aimed at readers who are looking for guidance, insight and new perspectives.

The publishing house is deliberately designed to be compact, independent and with high standards in terms of language, content and design. Schall-Verlag is based in Oldenburg (Lower Saxony) and plans multilingual publications in German and English.

This release was published on openPR.