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Once I truly appreciated the link between hips and jaw pain my treatment outcomes improved significantly. This is how I adapted my holistic TMJ Dysfunction protocol to transform my client's jaw pain experience.
Over the three years of study for my Professional Diploma in Advanced Clinical and Sports Massage, I never intended to become a jaw pain specialist.
My journey to becoming a clinical massage therapist was born out of personal experience with chronic low back pain since my late teens. I was fortunate and grateful to find transformative relief through myofascial release treatments. This personal experience inspired me to train as a clinical massage therapist specialising in myofascial release.
Initially, I envisioned a broad practice treating various musculoskeletal issues from my clinic in North London. Little did I know that a seemingly routine course on the treatment of jaw pain would unexpectedly steer me toward specialising in the relief of TMJ Dysfunction.
TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint. It’s actually two joints sitting just in front of the ears attaching the jaw bone (mandible) to the skull. TMJ Dysfunction or TMD is an umbrella term for a group of conditions affecting the temporomandibular joint and associated muscles, causing pain, restricted movement, and clicking or popping sensations in the jaw.
The TMJ is the most complex and hardest-working joint in the body, involved in breathing, talking, eating, and swallowing. Symptoms can range from mild discomfort to severe pain and may extend to headaches, earaches, and even dizziness. Often, myofascial pain is a significant component and that’s why TMJ Dysfunction can often be addressed through TMJ massage therapy.
Naturally, having studied TMJ dysfunction and armed with my holistic protocol I added this service to my treatments and advertised it as an add-on to my other holistic therapies.
After adding TMJ treatment to my website, quite unexpectedly, I was quickly inundated with inquiries. I soon discovered that so many people are living with jaw pain. Whilst the initial influx of clients appeared great for my practice, I soon found that the treatment protocol I was using wasn’t consistently effective.
While it worked well for some, others didn’t experience the significant relief I expected and I knew something was missing. This inconsistency was frustrating, especially as I strived for the best possible outcomes for all my clients. This led me to search for more advanced training and techniques.
If you search the internet for TMJ massage therapy it is difficult not to come across and be thoroughly impressed with the site tmjmassagetherapies.com.
This is the website of Helen Baker, a TMJ specialist therapist and trainer. I was particularly drawn to Helen’s personal journey to becoming a jaw pain specialist having dislocated her jaw whilst eating a bread roll.
Helen did not single out the bread roll as the culprit. Instead she took stock of her stressful life at the time and found relief through a holistic treatment approach.
I soon became confident that Helen was the person to learn from. Choosing to study with her was very easy.
Three particular factors stood out to me:
The course was excellent. Helen’s gentle, holistic approach was a perfect match to my own therapeutic approach. Her techniques included myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and remedial massage and she takes a full body approach to treating jaw pain with the understanding that it is significantly a nervous system issue rather than a local problem of the jaw.
One notable aspect of Helen’s protocol is the emphasis on releasing tension in the hip muscles. You won’t believe the difference treating hips can make for jaw pain! Seriously, focusing on muscles like your glutes and piriformis can actually ease tension all the way up in your jaw.
It’s incredible how connected our bodies are – get the hips working and suddenly jaws start moving better and feeling less tight. It really shows you that jaw pain isn’t just a local problem; it’s often linked to something else going on in the body.
A correlation between the hips and jaw has been recognised for several decades. A 2022 study of 30 patients with TMD found a correlation between TMJ acoustic abnormalities (e.g. clicking and popping) and the sacroiliac joint of the pelvis. They concluded that any treatment of TMD should be holistic.
There are numerous theories as to how the hips and jaw are connected. One theory is the fascial (connective tissue) connection. Studies on cadavers show this long connective tissue running from the muscles of mastication in the jaw, right down to the muscles of the pelvis.
Another theory involves the vagus nerve. This nerve plays a role in numerous bodily functions and forms a connection between the jaw region and the pelvic floor. Furthermore, the jaw frequently serves as a channel for emotional expression; clenching or grinding can be a physical manifestation of stress or tension.
As I see so many clients with TMJ issues, I was able to start introducing Helen’s holistic protocol right away. I already worked holistically, but I would normally focus only locally – intraorally, as well as around the jaw, neck, and shoulders in the first session.
To be honest, I didn’t really have high expectations when introducing the new protocol. However, once I started focusing on releasing tension around the hips, the improvement in my outcomes were instant. Clients immediately observed a release of tension in their jaw.
I could give examples of a number of clients who have experienced transformative results. However, I think Jane (not her real name), who was my case study during the training, stands out. Jane has had issues since she was a child and is now in her mid-sixties.
Like many TMJ clients, Jane’s story is complex. In early life she had jaw realignment treatment which was incredibly traumatic. Several whiplash injuries in her lifetime have contributed to postural issues and jaw clenching.
We’d been working together for a while and had seen some improvements in her pain levels, but she still felt her mandible was unnaturally retracted and her bite was misaligned.
We pretty much followed the new protocol, including releasing tension in the hips. During the session Jane experienced significant relaxation and softening in the jaw, neck, and shoulders, and reported feeling she needed less effort to sit comfortably. There was a lot of yawning, laughter, and overall joy!
Furthermore, Jane reported a release on the left side of the jaw during work on her left glute medius hip muscles, and a pelvic opening sensation while addressing the lateral pterygoid. The lateral pterygoid is a key jaw muscle which can be accessed safely with intraoral techniques.
When I followed up with Jane a few days after our session, she was ecstatic that she could open her mouth wider than three fingers for the first time ever. She found walking was easier. Her mouth was softer and chewing was easier.
I think this is more than Jane and I could have imagined with just one session of the new protocol.
This journey into really getting to grips with TMJ issues has shown me just how amazing it is when we look at the whole body – including the hips – and keep learning in our field. Shifting my focus slightly has enhanced my understanding of how everything’s connected and has led to some incredible results, sometimes even in just one session!
If you’re dealing with jaw pain, I really encourage you to see what’s possible and maybe even book a free discovery call to chat about how these techniques could help you feel better.
And for other therapists out there wanting to boost your skills and see your practice grow, definitely take a look at Helen Baker’s website at tmjmassagetherapies.com – her TMJ Massage Therapies® CPD course is fantastic.
Aggarwal, A., Jayshri Gadekar and Pradnya Kakodkar (2020). Role of myofascial release technique on mobility and function in temporomandibular joint disorder patients with neck pain. Journal of dental research and reviews, [online] 7(5), pp.84–87.
Aggeler, M. (2024). Does your jaw click? Do you grind your teeth? It could be this little-known condition. [online] the Guardian.
Alrizqi, A.H. and Aleissa, B.M. (2023). Prevalence of Temporomandibular Disorders Between 2015-2021: A Literature Review. Cureus, [online] 15(4).
Fischer, M.J., Riedlinger, K., Gutenbrunner, C. and Bernateck, M. (2009). Influence of the Temporomandibular Joint on Range of Motion of the Hip Joint in Patients With Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, [online] 32(5), pp.364–371.
Garstka, A.A., Brzózka, M., Bitenc-Jasiejko, A., Ardan, R., Gronwald, H., Skomro, P. and Lietz-Kijak, D. (2022). Cause-Effect Relationships between Painful TMD and Postural and Functional Changes in the Musculoskeletal System: A Preliminary Report. Pain Research & Management, [online] 2022(2022), p.1429932.
Prott, L.S., Spitznagel, F.A., Hugger, A., Langner, R., Gierthmühlen, P.C. and Mortimer Gierthmühlen (2024). Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for the treatment of myoarthropatic symptoms in patients with craniomandibular dysfunction – a protocol for a randomized and controlled pilot trial. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, [online] 10(1).
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