Chapter 15 · Head & Neck
Jaw Pain protocol
Indexed — full page in progressSource: Rehab Science · Ch 15 · PDF pp. 341–359📖 Rehab ScienceBuild my programme →
AMBER — get assessed before starting rehab
Screen for red flags before starting any protocol (safety check). Progress by symptoms and function, not by the calendar: > 3/10 pain → start phase 1; < 3/10 → phase 2 (PDF p. 205).Follow this programme to treat
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain
- Temporomandibular disorder (TMD)
Conditions in this protocol
- Temporomandibular disorder (jaw pain) PDF p. 342
Good for
- Alleviating jaw pain
- Relieving muscle tension
- Warm-up for phase 2 and 3 exercises
Guidelines
- Perform every day
- Tools: small massage ball, yoga block
- Add phase 2 when you have no pain at rest and no more than mild pain (3/10) with the exercises
Soft Tissue Mobilizations
▶ Spend 1–2 minutes on each area · Perform in any order on both sides · Stop on tender points for 10–20 seconds
diagram pending
Masseter mobilization
PDF p. 345 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Manual variation 1
PDF p. 346 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Manual variation 2
PDF p. 346 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Temporalis mobilization
PDF p. 346 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Manual variation
PDF p. 347 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Ball variation
PDF p. 347 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Suboccipital mobilization
PDF p. 348 · instructions pending
Good for
- Improving jaw and neck range of motion
- Warm-up for phase 3 exercises
Guidelines
- Perform every day
- Add phase 3 when you can do the exercises with no more than mild pain (3/10)
Mobility Exercises
▶ Do 3 sets of 10–15 reps · Active range of motion (AROM)—move as far as you can without pain · Pause at end range for 2–3 seconds · Perform seated or standing
diagram pending
Tmj mobility
PDF p. 350 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Opening and closing
PDF p. 351 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Lateral deviation
PDF p. 351 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Protraction and retraction
PDF p. 352 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Cervical mobility
PDF p. 352 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Flexion and extension
PDF p. 352 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Rotation
PDF p. 353 · instructions pending
diagram pending
Side-bend
PDF p. 353 · instructions pending
Good for
- Strengthening the jaw and neck
- Preventing jaw pain
Guidelines
- Perform 3 or 4 days a week
- Do 3 sets of 10–15 reps unless otherwise noted
- Add phase 3 exercises from the Neck Pain protocol (here– here) to prevent future jaw pain flare-ups
Source: Rehab Science · Ch 15 · PDF pp. 341–352· 2 original research citationsshow sources ▾
Also cited by the book on these pages:
- [Ch 15·11] Silveira A, Gadotti IC, Armijo-Olivo S, Biasotto-Gonzalez DA, Magee D. Jaw dysfunction is associated with neck disability and muscle tenderness in subjects with and without chronic temporomandibular disorders. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:512792. find original ↗
- [Ch 15·12] Kraus S. Temporomandibular disorders, head and orofacial pain: cervical spine considerations. Dent Clin North Am. 2007;51(1):161-vii. find original ↗
Page numbers are those of the uploaded PDF edition. "Find original" opens a PubMed search for the cited study.