Written and reviewed by: Dr. Sandra A. Do, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT

Manual Therapy Associates, Arvada, CO | Last updated: June 16, 2026

TMJ neck pain can feel confusing. You may notice jaw tightness, clicking, headaches, ear pressure, facial pain, or stiffness that travels into your neck and shoulders. For many people, the problem is not isolated to the jaw. The temporomandibular joint, chewing muscles, neck joints, posture, and daily stress habits can all work together.

At Manual Therapy Associates in Arvada, CO, we help people understand the connection between jaw pain, neck pain, headaches, and movement limitations. The goal is not just temporary pain relief. The goal is to identify what is driving your symptoms and build a practical plan to help your jaw and neck move better.

What is TMJ?
Can TMJ cause neck pain?
Common symptoms of TMJ neck pain
Why jaw pain and neck pain happen together
When to get TMJ pain checked
How physical therapy can help TMJ neck pain
Self-care tips for TMJ pain relief
TMJ treatment in Arvada, CO
Frequently asked questions

What is TMJ?

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint. You have one TMJ on each side of your face, just in front of your ears. These joints connect your jawbone to your skull and help you open, close, chew, speak, and move your jaw side to side.

Many people use “TMJ” to describe pain or dysfunction in the jaw, but the more accurate term is TMD, or temporomandibular disorder. TMD can involve the jaw joints, chewing muscles, discs inside the joint, nerves, posture, and nearby areas such as the head and neck. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research describes TMDs as a group of more than 30 conditions that can cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and chewing muscles.

Can TMJ cause neck pain?

Yes, TMJ problems can contribute to neck pain. The jaw and neck are closely connected through muscles, joints, nerves, and posture. When the jaw is irritated, stiff, or overworked, nearby muscles in the face, head, neck, and shoulders may also become tense or painful.

Mayo Clinic lists neck pain, headaches, facial pain, earache, jaw tenderness, painful chewing, and locking of the jaw among possible symptoms associated with TMJ disorders.

TMJ-related neck pain may feel like:

Tightness under the jaw
Pain near the ear or temple
Neck stiffness on one or both sides
Headaches that start near the jaw, temples, or base of the skull
Shoulder or upper-trapezius tension
Pain when chewing, yawning, or talking for long periods
Clicking or popping in the jaw with pain or limited motion

Jaw clicking by itself is not always a problem. Clicking or popping without pain or movement limitation is common and may not require treatment. Painful clicking, locking, limited opening, or worsening symptoms should be evaluated.

Common symptoms of TMJ neck pain

TMJ neck pain does not always show up the same way for every person. Some people feel pain mostly in the jaw. Others notice headaches, ear pressure, neck stiffness, or facial tension before they realize the jaw is involved.

Common symptoms include:

Jaw pain or tenderness
Neck pain or stiffness
Headaches or temple pain
Ear pain, fullness, or ringing
Pain with chewing
Limited jaw opening
Jaw locking
Clicking, popping, or grinding in the jaw
Facial pain
Tooth pain that does not seem dental in origin
Shoulder or upper-back tension
Difficulty finding a comfortable jaw resting position

Because these symptoms can overlap with dental, neurological, sinus, and cervical spine problems, a thorough evaluation matters.

Why jaw pain and neck pain happen together

TMJ neck pain usually develops from more than one factor. A good treatment plan looks at the jaw, neck, posture, muscle tension, daily habits, and stress load.

1. Jaw clenching and grinding

Clenching and grinding can overload the chewing muscles and TMJ. Many people clench during sleep, while working, while driving, or during stress without realizing it. Over time, this can irritate the jaw and create muscle tension that spreads into the head and neck.

2. Forward head posture

A forward head posture can change how the jaw rests and how the neck muscles work. Hours at a computer, looking down at a phone, or sitting with rounded shoulders can increase strain through the neck, shoulders, and jaw.

3. Neck joint stiffness

The upper neck and jaw often influence each other. Stiffness in the cervical spine can contribute to headaches, jaw muscle guarding, and difficulty relaxing the jaw.

4. Muscle trigger points

The chewing muscles, upper trapezius, scalenes, sternocleidomastoid, and suboccipital muscles can refer pain into the jaw, ear, temple, head, and neck. Manual therapy and targeted exercises may help reduce sensitivity and improve movement.

5. Joint or disc irritation

The TMJ contains a small disc that helps the jaw move smoothly. Disc irritation, arthritis, injury, or joint strain can contribute to pain, clicking, locking, or limited opening. Mayo Clinic notes that disc problems, arthritis, injury, and soft tissue strain may be involved in TMJ disorders.

6. Stress and nervous system sensitivity

Stress does not mean the pain is “in your head.” Stress can increase clenching, muscle tension, sleep disruption, and pain sensitivity. NIDCR notes that psychological and life stress may play a role in TMDs for some people.

When should you get TMJ pain checked?

You should consider an evaluation when jaw or neck symptoms are frequent, worsening, or interfering with eating, talking, sleeping, work, or exercise.

Get checked if you have:

Constant jaw pain or tenderness
Pain that worsens when chewing or opening your mouth
Jaw locking
Difficulty opening or closing your mouth
New bite changes
Painful clicking, popping, or grinding
Headaches with jaw or neck symptoms
Ear pain or pressure without an ear infection
Neck pain that has not improved with basic care

Mayo Clinic recommends seeking medical attention for constant jaw pain or tenderness, pain with jaw movement, or inability to fully open or close the jaw.

How physical therapy can help TMJ neck pain

Physical therapy for TMJ neck pain should be specific. A strong plan does not only treat the jaw. It looks at the jaw, neck, shoulders, posture, muscle tone, movement patterns, breathing, stress habits, and home care.

At Manual Therapy Associates, treatment may include:

Comprehensive jaw and neck assessment

Your therapist evaluates jaw opening, jaw tracking, neck mobility, muscle tenderness, posture, headache patterns, and daily habits. The goal is to understand what is driving your symptoms instead of treating the jaw in isolation.

Manual therapy

Manual therapy may be used to improve mobility, reduce muscle guarding, and help the jaw and neck move more comfortably. NIDCR notes that physical therapy aims to maintain, improve, or restore movement and that manual therapy has been shown to improve function and relieve pain in TMDs.

Myofascial release and soft tissue treatment

Myofascial release may help reduce tension in the chewing muscles, neck muscles, and shoulders. This can be especially helpful when jaw pain is connected to headaches, posture, or muscle trigger points.

Jaw and neck exercises

Gentle exercises may help restore jaw control, improve neck mobility, and reduce strain. These may include jaw relaxation drills, controlled opening, posture exercises, deep neck flexor strengthening, and shoulder mobility work.

Posture and ergonomic coaching

For many people, TMJ symptoms flare during computer work, phone use, driving, or stressful tasks. Small changes to workstation setup, jaw resting posture, and movement breaks can reduce daily irritation.

Dry needling when appropriate

Dry needling may be considered for muscle-related jaw, neck, or headache symptoms when it is appropriate for the patient and part of a broader plan of care.

Home care plan

A strong home plan helps you manage symptoms between visits. This may include heat or ice, soft-food strategies during flare-ups, relaxed jaw posture, avoiding gum chewing, and gentle mobility exercises.

Self-care tips for TMJ pain relief

These tips may help calm TMJ neck pain during a flare-up:

Keep your teeth slightly apart when resting
Let your tongue rest gently on the roof of your mouth
Avoid gum chewing
Avoid biting nails, pens, or ice
Choose softer foods temporarily if chewing is painful
Use heat or cold based on what feels better
Take short posture breaks during computer work
Avoid forcing your jaw open
Notice when you clench during stress, driving, or concentration

NIDCR recommends starting with simple, conservative approaches for many TMD symptoms and avoiding irreversible treatments unless clearly necessary.

Stop any exercise or self-care strategy that increases pain, locking, dizziness, numbness, or unusual symptoms.

TMJ treatment in Arvada, CO

Manual Therapy Associates provides physical therapy and manual therapy in Arvada, CO, for people dealing with jaw pain, TMJ symptoms, headaches, neck pain, and movement limitations.

Dr. Sandra A. Do, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT has advanced training in orthopedic manual physical therapy and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. The practice emphasizes comprehensive assessment, hands-on treatment, patient education, and self-treatment tools.

If your TMJ pain is connected to neck stiffness, headaches, posture, muscle tension, or jaw movement problems, physical therapy may help you understand the source of the problem and build a plan for long-term improvement.

Schedule an appointment with Manual Therapy Associates in Arvada, CO, to get your jaw, neck, and headache symptoms evaluated.

Frequently asked questions about TMJ neck pain

Can TMJ cause neck pain?

Yes. The jaw and neck share muscles, nerves, and movement patterns. TMJ irritation, clenching, posture, and neck stiffness can all contribute to jaw and neck pain.

How do I know if my neck pain is from TMJ?

TMJ-related neck pain often appears with jaw tightness, clicking, headaches, ear symptoms, facial pain, pain with chewing, or limited jaw opening. A physical therapy evaluation can help determine whether the jaw, neck, or both are contributing.

Can physical therapy help TMJ pain?

Physical therapy may help improve jaw and neck movement, reduce muscle tension, address posture, and teach home strategies. Manual therapy and exercise are commonly used conservative approaches for TMD-related pain and movement problems.

Is jaw clicking always serious?

No. Jaw clicking without pain or movement limitation is common and may not need treatment. Painful clicking, locking, limited opening, or worsening symptoms should be evaluated.

Should I see a dentist or a physical therapist for TMJ?

It depends on your symptoms. A dentist may help with bite, tooth, mouth guard, or dental concerns. A physical therapist may help when symptoms involve jaw movement, muscle tension, neck pain, headaches, posture, or movement limitations. Many people benefit from a collaborative approach.

Do mouth guards fix TMJ?

Mouth guards or oral appliances may help some people, especially when clenching or grinding is involved, but they are not a complete solution for everyone. NIDCR cautions that oral appliances should not permanently change the bite and should be discontinued if they cause or increase pain.

Is surgery usually needed for TMJ?

Most TMJ problems are treated conservatively first. Surgery is generally reserved for severe cases after other approaches have been tried. NIDCR recommends avoiding permanent changes to the jaw, teeth, or bite unless clearly necessary.