eDUCATIONAL Physical Therapy posts by Dr. Sabrina J Gray

Pain, clicking, or popping in the jaw, burning pain in the face, headaches, sinus pain & even Tinnitus can all be caused by the lateral Pterygoid muscle which is a common culprit in jaw and face pain.

The jaw joint (Temporomandibular joint) has a disc that cushions the joint and enables proper movement between the jaw and its meeting point with the skull. The Lateral Pterygoid attaches to the front of the disc and when over active, can pull the disc out of place as the mouth opens if it is too active while other muscles aren’t active enough. Without the disc in its proper place the joint is unprotected and can become very painful. 

In some cases, tightness of the Lateral Pterygoid can also be the source of Trigeminal Nerve Neuralgia (severe face pain) as this nerve creates sensation to the face and passes through the lower inner Belly of the Lateral Pterygoid. 

Active Release Technique and Dry Needling are effective treatments for issues caused by this muscle along with customized therapeutic exercise that addresses why this muscle is overactive in you.

Many Physical Therapists are not aware of how many issues & symptoms this muscle can cause but don't worry,  Dr. Sabrina J Gray of Hands On Care Physical Therapy in Guilford CT has advanced training & is ready to alleviate your symptoms today!

If the jaw pain, face pain, sinus pain, tinnitus, or headaches from the previous post sound like you, keep reading! 

We established that the Lateral Pterygoid muscle can be the cause of all of these symptoms, but if your Physical Therapy Examination confirms this, what then?

Some practitioners attempt to access the Lateral Pterygoid to treat the dysfunction in this muscle by reaching up and behind the back molar to mobilize the origin of the muscle. This method can work if your provider has small enough hands, as the ability to reach this area with a finger can be difficult. Dry Needling is a better option as we can place a needle directly into the area circled in the photo and treat through the belly of the Lateral Pterygoid muscle. This in combination with targeted exercises based on your specific cause of dysfunction in this muscle can have you chewing and talking pain free. So if you have jaw, face, or ear pain give me a call. Concierge Care by Dr. Sabrina J Gray of Hands On Care Physical Therapy Guilford CT