Jaw pain, clicking, morning headaches, and bruxism — a coordinated physiotherapy, chiropractic, and acupuncture approach to the full complexity of temporomandibular dysfunction.
Reducing systemic stress and sympathetic nervous system arousal directly reduces jaw clenching and the muscle tension driving TMD.
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is one of the most underdiagnosed sources of head, face, and neck pain. The temporomandibular joint connects your jaw to your skull just in front of each ear, and it is one of the most used joints in the body — involved in speaking, chewing, yawning, and swallowing hundreds of times per day. When this joint or the muscles controlling it become dysfunctional, the effects extend far beyond the jaw itself.
TMD commonly presents as clicking or locking of the jaw, face or temple pain, earache without infection, tinnitus, chronic headaches, neck stiffness, and disrupted sleep from bruxism (grinding). Because the trigeminal nerve — the largest sensory nerve in the head — innervates the entire jaw and face, TMJ dysfunction can produce referred pain patterns that appear entirely unrelated to the jaw: toothache without dental cause, eye pressure, even shoulder tension.
At Move to Motion, TMD is treated with a collaborative approach combining physiotherapy , chiropractic , and acupuncture , addressing both the joint mechanics and the muscular and neurological drivers of the condition.
Pain primarily in the muscles of mastication — the masseter, temporalis, medial and lateral pterygoids. Often worse in the morning (from nocturnal grinding) or after prolonged chewing. Responds well to manual therapy and acupuncture trigger point release.
The articular disc between the condyle and temporal bone slips out of position, producing the characteristic clicking or popping sound on jaw opening. With or without jaw locking. Manual joint mobilization and postural correction are primary treatments.
Nocturnal teeth grinding and clenching that loads the TMJ and surrounding musculature during sleep. Acupuncture reduces sympathetic arousal and motor nucleus activity. Physiotherapy addresses cervical alignment contributing to nocturnal posture.
Upper cervical dysfunction at C1–C3 refers pain to the face, temple, and jaw mimicking or contributing to TMD. Chiropractic and physiotherapy mobilization of the upper cervical spine often resolves jaw symptoms that have failed direct TMJ treatment.
Tension and cervicogenic headaches driven by jaw muscle hyperactivity and trigeminal sensitization. Treating the TMD resolves or substantially reduces the headache pattern in most patients within 4–6 sessions.
Jaw dysfunction following motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, dental procedures, or direct trauma. Often missed as a source of persistent post-injury pain. ICBC and WorkSafeBC accepted for trauma-related TMD presentations.
TMD rarely responds to a single treatment approach. Our physiotherapists begin with a detailed assessment of jaw mobility, muscle tenderness, joint sounds, bite patterns, and cervical spine involvement. From this assessment, a coordinated plan is developed that may draw on any combination of our team’s skills.
Physiotherapy addresses joint mechanics through intraoral and extraoral manual therapy, jaw mobilization, and exercise programs for jaw opening and stability. Chiropractic care addresses upper cervical alignment and any cervicogenic contributions to jaw symptoms. Acupuncture targets masseter and pterygoid trigger points, reduces bruxism through autonomic regulation, and manages the headache pattern associated with many TMD presentations.
No Referral Needed · ICBC & WorkSafeBC Accepted · Direct Billing to All Major Insurers