Neck & jaw Orthopaedic Rehabilitation
TMJ Disorder
- Jaw pain, especially chewing
- Clicking or locking of the jaw
- Difficulty opening the mouth fully
- Headaches around the temples
Quick answer
TMJ disorder affects the jaw joint and the muscles that move it, causing jaw pain, clicking and difficulty opening the mouth. Clenching, grinding and neck problems are common contributors. Physiotherapy, habit change and jaw exercises resolve most cases over six to twelve weeks.
Typical recovery
6–12 weeks
A typical range, not a promise — how long it takes depends on how long it has been going on, and on what you do between appointments.
The temporomandibular joint sits just in front of the ear and is used every time you speak, chew or swallow — thousands of times a day. It is also one of the few joints people habitually clench.
What it feels like
Pain in the jaw, in front of the ear, or across the cheek, typically worse when chewing. Clicking or popping when opening. Difficulty opening fully, or the jaw catching and locking. Headaches around the temples. Ear pain and a blocked sensation with entirely normal hearing — a common reason people are referred to ENT first.
Why it happens
- Clenching and grinding, often at night and often stress-related. The most common contributor by a distance
- Disc displacement inside the joint, which produces the clicking
- Arthritis of the joint
- Neck problems, since the jaw and upper neck share nerve supply and referral patterns
- Habits: nail biting, chewing gum, holding a phone with the shoulder
How physiotherapy helps
- Hands-on treatment to the jaw and chewing muscles, including work inside the mouth where indicated
- Treating the neck, which is very often part of the picture and is missed when the jaw is treated alone
- Exercises for controlled opening and jaw position
- Habit awareness — teeth apart at rest, tongue on the palate. Most people clench without any awareness of doing it
- Advice on diet consistency and sleep position during the irritable phase
- Liaison with a dentist where a night guard is appropriate
How long it takes
Six to twelve weeks for most cases. Where clenching is stress-driven, addressing that is part of the treatment, and progress tracks it.
Medically reviewed by Nasir Mughees, BPT, MPT, Orthopaedic Physiotherapy · Last reviewed September 2026