Jaw Pain & TMJ Physiotherapy
Patients with TMJ (jaw) problems may experience jaw, head, or facial pain, jaw clicking, stiffness or locking, worn or chipped teeth, headaches, ringing in the ears, jaw weakness, or difficulty chewing, singing, or teeth grinding/clenching. Often, neck and upper spine discomfort accompanies these symptoms, which we treat concurrently for the best outcomes.
Specialist TMJ Assessment & Diagnosis
TMJ assessment and treatment is a specialised area of physiotherapy. At City Physio & Pilates in the Sydney CBD, your physiotherapist will perform a comprehensive assessment of your jaw and neck, including:
-
Range of motion and jaw opening/closing patterns
-
Symmetry of jaw movement
-
Facial muscle strength
-
Postural assessment, including head tilt, dentition, and neck alignment
-
Evaluation of associated symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, or ear ringing
Because over 80% of jaw input comes from the neck, our physiotherapists assess the entire cervical spine, posture, and contributing factors to ensure a complete diagnosis.
Evidence-Based Treatment for Jaw Pain
Treatment may include:
-
Manual therapy for the jaw, neck, and facial muscles
-
Tailored exercises and stretches to improve jaw function and posture
-
Postural correction and movement retraining
-
Collaboration with dentists, orthodontists, or dental prosthetists for splints, alignment, or other interventions
We also integrate Pilates-based postural training to manage muscle pain in the neck, shoulders, and back, often associated with chronic TMJ disorders.
Specialist Clinicians & Advanced Techniques
At City Physio, TMJ treatment is only available with our extended scope practitioners, Nicola and Matt.
Matt is an incredibly talented Titled physiotherapist with a unique and well honed skillset that allows him to identify quickly the biomechanical contibutors to jaw and head pain. Matt enjoys treating all aspects of mechanical jaw pain, stiffness and muscle based face pain within a holistic approach to the head, neck and ribs
Nicola holds a Master’s specialisation in orofacial pain and an advanced certification in dry needling for TMJD and orofacial pain. She is the only physiotherapist in our clinic able to perform facial and jaw dry needling, though she may collaborate with other physiotherapists for a combined approach. Nicola offers a true clinical specialty in TMJ and orofacial pain, not simply a “special interest” in jaw treatment. Nicola holds a Master’s in Pain Management with a specific academic speciality on orofacial pain, meaning her expertise extends beyond local jaw mechanics to the complex neurological, biopsychosocial and central sensitisation drivers that underpin persistent TMJ dysfunction, jaw pain, headaches and facial pain disorders.
Both Matt and Nicola treat the jaw as the specialised, complex structure it is, delivering highly individualised, expert care for the best functional outcomes.