Your jaw starts hurting as you eat your lunch. By the time you get back to work, the pain has turned into a headache that dogs you the rest of the day. Sound like a familiar scenario? If it does, you’re probably wondering what’s causing your jaw pain and headaches.
The short answer could be an issue called temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, and this condition occurs in up to 12% of the U.S. population. A physical therapist can educate you about TMJ dysfunction. These specialists can also help you learn why your headaches and jaw aches occur together and how to treat these symptoms.
What causes headaches and jaw pain at the same time when you have TMJ dysfunction?
TMJ dysfunction is actually a broad category of issues that affect jaw joints, and many of these issues can also lead to simultaneous jaw pain and headaches. Three such issues are:
- Osteoarthritis — This type of arthritis occurs when the cartilage in a joint wears out naturally over time. Osteoarthritis can easily affect the jaw joints, and it can lead to jaw pain that radiates into the head and triggers frequent headaches.
- Joint hypermobility — This issue occurs when you can open your jaws farther than normal. Joint hypermobility is often caused by weak or loose jaw muscles. It can lead to misalignments of the jaw joint that set off headaches and pain.
- Grinding your teeth — This issue is known as bruxism to medical professionals. People often grind their teeth when stressed, and this stress can also lead to tense, painful jaw muscles. In turn, both the grinding and tense muscles can cause discomfort and headaches.
What can a physical therapist do for jaw pain and headaches?
Your physical therapist can evaluate your jaw to determine which issue is causing your symptoms. They can then build you a therapy plan to fit your individual needs. This plan can make use of physical therapy methods such as:
- Joint mobilization
- Soft tissue mobilization
- Dry needling
- Therapeutic exercises
- Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM)
- Virtual therapy
Peak Performance offers therapeutic care for jaw pain and headaches
Want to find a physical therapy team that can treat your aching jaw and headaches? Our Peak Performance team offers just the type of help you’re looking for. We perform comprehensive screenings that can pinpoint the source of your jaw and head symptoms. In addition, our physical therapists are adept at creating personalized therapy plans designed to reduce pain and decrease headache frequency.
Contact us today for more information about our treatment options for jaw and head pain or to schedule an initial appointment.
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