A physical therapist can tell you that the answer to this question is yes. They can also tell you that there are many more people than you might think who are dealing with these types of pain.
One medical study reports that almost 86% of the people who have neck pain annually also have headaches. Another study reveals that 70% of people who have temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain also experience neck pain. Besides confirming that these types of pain are connected, your physical therapist can help you in other ways. They can help you learn more about how these forms of pain are connected. Your specialist can also help you find effective ways to treat neck pain that’s causing headaches and jaw pain.
Two reasons neck pain can cause headaches and jaw pain
Physical therapists are experts in the human musculoskeletal system. This system includes bones, joints and soft tissue, and these structures are found in your neck, head and jaw. Their familiarity with the musculoskeletal system allows physical therapists to explain why neck pain can cause headaches.
Two of the reasons your physical therapist may give include:
- Muscles run from the neck into the head and jaw — There are many muscles that run from your neck into other parts of the body. Some, like the suboccipital muscles, run from the neck into your head. Others, like the platysma muscle, run through the neck into your jaw. Tension or injuries to your neck muscles can thus lead to issues with your jaw or head.
- Referred pain — Referred pain occurs when you feel pain somewhere that isn’t the actual source of the pain. This type of pain is possible because nerves connect parts of the body together. These nerve connections can also make it feel like your jaw or head hurts when your neck is painful and vice versa.
How can a physical therapist treat neck pain that’s causing headaches and jaw pain?
Your physical therapist can take several steps to help treat neck pain that’s causing jaw pain or headaches. First, they will perform a physical examination of the painful area. Then, your specialist will build you an individualized physical therapy plan that can include therapy methods such as:
- Soft tissue mobilization
- Therapeutic exercises
- Graston Technique®
- Trigger point therapy
- McKenzie Method®
- At-home care
- Virtual therapy
Panther Physical Therapy can help treat your neck pain, jaw pain, headaches or any combination of the three
Think that your neck pain is also causing your jaw pain or headaches? Our team at Panther Physical Therapy is ready and willing to help you find expert assistance for your pain. We offer comprehensive evaluations that can pinpoint the root cause of your pain. Additionally, our physical therapists excel at building personalized therapy plans designed to reduce and prevent pain.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an appointment.