Kerry Baker

PT, CCTT, CODN

Physiotherapist / TMJ Care

With a BSc degree in Physical Therapy from Michigan’s Grand Valley State University and over 38 years of experience, Kerry brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Align Wellness Studio.

Kerry is a Certified Cervical and Temporomandibular Therapist (CCTT) specialising in the field of TMJ (temporomandibular joint/jaw) care. Her passion extends to treating headaches, neck pain and orofacial pain, making her a sought-after expert in the challenging realm of Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMD) treatment. Before joining Align, Kerry was the proud owner of Remedy Physical Therapy, a boutique clinic in Michigan known for its exceptional focus on TMJ therapy.

As a testament to her commitment to excellence, Kerry holds a Certification in Orofacial Dry Needling (CODN) and is a member of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain. She attends their national scientific conferences bi-yearly to stay at the forefront of advancements in her field. She is a committee member of the Physical Therapy Board of Craniofacial and Cervical Therapeutics (PTBCCT).

Kerry performs an intensive upper-quarter evaluation (jaw, facial muscles, neck, shoulders, posture, etc.) to determine the causative and perpetuating factors of the dysfunction.

Dysfunction can be:

• Jaw pain or tenderness around the jaw joint

• Jaw discomfort or pain when chewing, biting, talking, brushing teeth, kissing, etc.

• Clicking, popping, or grating sounds when moving the jaw

• Limited range of motion stiffness or locking of the jaw

• Ear pain or a feeling of fullness in ears (without any effusion or infection)

• Headaches, neck pain or facial pain

• Painful tooth (after a dental visit and infection, cavity or decay has been ruled out)

She then can plan the appropriate individualised therapeutic plan for each client using trigger point therapy, orofacial dry needling, modalities, exercises, manual therapy and stretching to achieve set goals. Goals for TMJ therapy can include:

▪ Improve motion of jaw joint

▪ Improve function of jaw joint

▪ Possibly reduce joint noises (clicking, popping, grating sounds)

▪ Reduce or alleviate jaw pain and dysfunction

▪ Reduce or alleviate neck pain

▪ Reduce or alleviate headaches

▪ Reduce or alleviate oral pain

Beyond her professional endeavors, Kerry finds joy in spending quality time with her Cayman relatives and her five adult children, all of whom are certified scuba divers. She loves active outdoor activities—from beach walks to scuba diving, swimming, hiking, and cross-country skiing. Kerry is also always trying to improve her tennis and pickleball game.

For further details, please reach out to Kerry at (345) 640-5050 or via email at kerry.baker@align.ky