Condition · Head & Neck
Jaw Pain (TMJ)
How Myofascial Release addresses it, and what to expect.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders encompass a range of conditions that affect the temporomandibular joint that connects the jaw to the skull and the muscles involved in jaw movement. The exact cause of TMJ disorders is often multifactorial and may include factors such as jaw injury, arthritis, teeth grinding (bruxism), or an abnormal bite. Stress and anxiety can also contribute to the development or exacerbation of TMJ symptoms. Symptoms may include: jaw pain, clicking or popping of the joint, locking of the jaw, muscle tenderness, headaches, earache or tinnitus.
Why fascia is involved
The jaw clenches with the neck and the neck clenches with the jaw.
The muscles that move the jaw are wrapped in fascia that is continuous with the fascia of the face, the base of the skull, the neck and the throat. Clenching, grinding, dental work, injury and stress cause that tissue to shorten and thicken, pulling the jaw out of its easy path and loading the joint. Because of the shared fascia, TMJ pain often travels with headaches, neck pain, ear symptoms and tinnitus.
Myofascial Release addresses the jaw together with the neck, face, skull base and upper shoulders. Therapists use sustained, gentle pressure, sometimes including gentle work inside the mouth with consent, to release the muscles that hold the jaw tight. Many people find clicking and pain reduce and the jaw opens more freely.
MFR Resource
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Every therapist in the Directory is trained in the John F. Barnes Myofascial Release Approach®.