Does massage help with jaw joint stiffness(Lock Jaw)?
A tight jaw can happen for many reasons, such as stress, temporomandibular joint disorders, grinding the teeth at night, and tetanus, also known as lockjaw.
The treatment will depend on the cause.
Often, a massage can relieve tightness in the jaw, but if you think your jaw may be stiff because of tetanus, arthritis, or a traumatic injury, it’s best to seek medical advice as soon as possible.
TMD: What a pain in the … temporomandibular joint(Jaw Joint)
Many factors contribute to what was once called “lockjaw,” a disorder of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) that causes:
Jaw pain or tenderness, often while chewing.
Headache or facial pain.
Earache or ringing in the ears.
Difficulty opening or closing the mouth (hence the term, “lockjaw”).
There are different causes of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), including arthritis or a jaw injury. But if TMD is related to tightness and imbalance in the TMJ muscles because of clenching, a professional jaw massage might be what the doctor ordered.
“I’ve found manipulation by a professional, plus jaw exercises, to be highly effective,” says chiropractor Andrew Bang, DC. “When painkillers and bite guards don’t cut it, these types of manual therapy are a good next step.”
TMJ trigger point massage
Trigger points are hyper-tensed muscles (aka muscle knots) that cause jaw aches and pains. “When it comes to TMD, we can blame the pain on the masseter muscle, which covers the jaw over your teeth,” says Dr. Bang.
“The masseter muscle is used for chewing and jaw clenching. Muscle overuse from teeth grinding and jaw clenching causes the muscles to become tense, inflamed and very painful.”
But the magic of massage or manual therapy may mend those muscles. It’s best to find a provider who has a comprehensive understanding of the TMJ musculature, such as a:
Chiropractor.
Physical therapist.
Massage therapist.
Osteopathic physician.
When the jaw muscles are overly tight or imbalanced, manual therapy works well to help restore normal muscle tone and balance between the TMJ muscles.
“The therapist starts by gently touching the muscle to relax it. Next, they firmly press a thumb or finger into the tissue to identify and apply intense pressure to any trigger points. “The kneading helps to unravel the ropey muscle fibers and bring relief,” says Dr. Bang.
TMJ exercises
by Pirom Therapeutic Massage
Reference :
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/stubborn-tmj-pain-try-trigger-point-massage-and-jaw-exercises
https://www.healthline.com/health/tight-jaw#massage
