What causes neck and jaw pain at the same time?

The most common answer to this question is that you have a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. However, this is a broad category of conditions that includes many issues. 

The TMJ is more commonly called the jaw joint, and it’s instrumental in activities like chewing and talking. A TMJ disorder can cause both jaw pain and neck pain. It’s estimated that about 33% of people have at least one symptom of a TMJ disorder. Physical therapists can help you determine what’s causing your neck pain and jaw pain, and they can also offer effective treatment for a TMJ disorder that’s causing these symptoms. 

What TMJ disorders could be causing your neck and jaw pain?

There are multiple TMJ disorders that can lead to discomfort in the jaw or the neck. One common issue that falls in the TMJ disorders category is a muscle strain. There are several muscles in the face and neck that help control your jaw, and tightness or strains in these muscles can lead to the pain you’re experiencing. 

Other TMJ disorders that could lead to an aching neck and jaw include: 

• Jaw joint osteoarthritis
• Jaw misalignment
• Cartilage damage
• Jaw fractures

How can a physical therapist help treat neck and jaw pain? 

Your physical therapist can do a lot to help treat your pain once its cause is determined. Typically, your treatment plan will include multiple therapy methods, and some of the methods your plan could include are: 

• Therapeutic exercises intended to improve jaw muscle strength and support.

• Joint mobilization that can improve TMJ range of motion. 

• Dry needling designed to reduce pain by promoting a local twitch response in jaw soft tissue. 

• Soft tissue mobilization that can help ease tension in muscles and other jaw and neck soft tissue. 

Advent Physical Therapy offers treatment for neck and jaw pain

Tired of living with an aching neck and jaw? Our therapists at Advent PT are primed to help you find ways to reduce your pain. We’ll start by doing a free screening of your neck and jaw to pinpoint the cause of your pain. Then, our team will build you an individualized therapy plan designed to decrease your pain and improve your ability to use your jaw normally. 

Don’t have time to come to an in-person session? No problem! We can save you the driving time to our clinics thanks to our virtual therapy and at-home care services. You’ll even be able to start your treatment with us without a doctor’s referral. 

Contact our team today for more information about our TMJ treatment services or to schedule an initial appointment.