Treating Jaw Pain with Massage Therapy

We often keep our jaw muscle tensed without even realizing it. Check in with your jaw right now – is it clenched tightly, or is it relaxed? Many people naturally keep tension in their jaw out of habit or even stress. However, this can lead to jaw pain and tenderness around that important area and up to the ears.

Jaw pain is characterized by aching, discomfort or pain when chewing or moving the muscles around the jaw. It can be caused from clenching or grinding your teeth and, if serious, can lead to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).

If you’re experiencing pain and muscle spasms in the head, jaw, neck and shoulder muscles, ear or head aches, clicking noises during jaw movement, locked jaw, or dizzy spells, you may have TMJ. Massage therapy is an effective and viable treatment.

Massage can be done around the jaw, neck and shoulder muscles to hit trigger points and loosen the area. Certain techniques such as myofascial release and cranial sacral therapy can also be used. Massage therapy also aids in reducing pain and tension and increasing blood flow to the muscles. Following massage, daily exercises may be recommended to aid with the pain.

The article, Benefits of Using Massage Therapy to Treat TMJ, can help you find out more about how massage therapy with a Vancouver RMT can help TMJ.

Broadway Wellness is a multi-disciplinary healthcare clinic that has been located in the Fairview area of Vancouver, BC since 2004. Our Vancouver clinic provides the services of highly trained and well-reviewed practitioners in the areas of Registered Massage Therapy, Naturopathic Medicine, and Acupuncture.