Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders can often go undiagnosed but are common sources of jaw, facial, ear, and neck pain. TMJ pain arise from a variety of sources, such as a dental procedures, repetitive movements, traumatic blow to the face, stress, posture, or even cervical spine dysfunction.
Symptoms may include:
- Jaw pain
- Clicking or popping in the jaw
- Limited opening of the jaw
- Ear pain
- Tinnitus
- Facial pain
- Headaches
- Neck pain
The good news is that TMJ pain can be treated conservatively with physical therapy. Depending on the cause of symptoms, physical therapy may include manual therapy such as soft tissue mobilization or joint mobilizations, exercises to retrain jaw mechanics of opening and closing, relaxation techniques, and postural re-education.
TMJ disorders often go undiagnosed because the symptoms can show up in unexpected places — jaw pain and clicking, but also ear pain, tinnitus, facial pain, headaches, or neck pain. If you're experiencing a combination of these, it's worth getting evaluated, since TMJ dysfunction isn't always obvious at first.
TMJ pain can come from several sources, including dental procedures, repetitive jaw movements, a traumatic blow to the face, stress, poor posture, or even dysfunction in the cervical spine. Because the causes vary so much, your treatment starts with identifying what's actually driving your symptoms.
TMJ pain can often be treated with physical therapy. Depending on the cause, treatment may include manual therapy, such as soft-tissue or joint mobilizations, exercises to retrain your jaw's opening and closing, relaxation techniques, and postural re-education.
Because the jaw doesn't work in isolation, cervical spine dysfunction and posture can directly contribute to TMJ symptoms. Treating the neck and improving posture are often key to resolving jaw pain, not just treating the jaw itself.
Treatment is approached conservatively and tailored to your symptoms. Manual therapy techniques and jaw-retraining exercises are generally gentle, and your therapist will adjust based on your comfort and response to treatment.
This depends on what's driving your symptoms — whether it's a recent dental procedure, an old injury, or a postural/stress-related pattern. Your therapist will evaluate the root cause and build a plan around it, so timelines vary from patient to patient.
