How massage therapy can reduce headaches and tmj issues

Headaches and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are common issues that affect many people, causing discomfort and disruption to daily life. Whether you’re suffering from tension headaches, migraines, or jaw pain from TMJ dysfunction, massage therapy can offer significant relief.

One of the most common causes of headaches, particularly tension headaches, is the buildup of tension in the muscles of the neck, shoulders, and scalp. Stress, poor posture, and long hours spent at a desk or in front of a screen can lead to tight muscles, which then trigger headache pain. Some specific techniques used for headaches are trigger point therapy, scalp massage and neck and shoulder massage.

Trigger point therapy is a technique that focuses on specific points of tightness in the muscles that are referred to as "trigger points." By applying pressure to these points, massage can reduce muscle knots and the associated pain.

More specifically for TMJ disorders, this refers to problems with the jaw joint and surrounding muscles, often resulting in pain, clicking, and difficulty moving the jaw. TMJ issues can be caused by various factors, including teeth grinding, jaw clenching, poor posture, and stress.

Massage therapy can help relieve TMJ pain by addressing the muscles around the jaw, neck, and head. These muscles are often tight and overworked, contributing to jaw discomfort and dysfunction. Some specific techniques used for TMJ pain are myofascial release, jaw and facial massage as well as neck and shoulder massage.

Myofascial release: This technique focuses on gentle, sustained pressure to release muscle tightness and fascia (the connective tissue surrounding muscles). For TMJ, this can help release tension in the jaw muscles and surrounding areas.