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Conditions We Treat
Physical Therapy for TMJ & Jaw Pain
Jaw pain, clicking and headaches can wear you down through every meal and conversation. Hands-on physical therapy for the TMJ eases the tension and gets your jaw moving comfortably again.
Understanding TMJ and jaw pain
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jaw to your skull and works harder than almost any joint in the body — every time you talk, chew or yawn. When it is irritated, the effects reach into the head, neck and ears.
TMJ pain is often driven by muscle tension, clenching and posture rather than the joint itself, which is exactly why physical therapy helps. Targeted manual therapy and retraining can settle symptoms that dental work alone did not resolve.
Signs of a TMJ problem
TMJ trouble shows up in more places than just the jaw:
Jaw pain or tightness
Aching or fatigue in the jaw, especially with chewing or talking.
Clicking or popping
Noises or a catching feeling when you open and close your mouth.
Headaches
Recurring tension headaches, often around the temples.
Ear and face pain
Fullness, pressure or pain near the ear with no ear infection.
Locking jaw
The jaw sticking or locking, or opening only part-way.
Trouble chewing
Discomfort biting into food or a bite that feels off.
What tends to cause it
TMJ symptoms usually come from tension and mechanics around the joint:
- Clenching or grinding your teeth, often at night
- Stress and chronic tension in the jaw and neck muscles
- Forward-head posture that overloads the jaw
- Displacement or irritation of the disc inside the joint
- Arthritis or wear in the joint
- Strain after dental work, a wide yawn or an injury
TMJ problems we treat
We regularly help people with:
- TMJ dysfunction and jaw pain
- Clicking, popping or locking jaw
- Tension headaches linked to the jaw and neck
- Clenching- and grinding-related muscle pain
- Limited jaw opening and chewing difficulty
- Post-surgical or post-dental jaw rehab
How we treat TMJ and jaw pain at ProKinetics
Because the jaw, neck and posture work together, we treat all three — not just the joint — which is what makes the relief last.
A full-hour, one-on-one evaluation
Your first visit is a proper assessment with a Doctor of Physical Therapy who watches how you move and pinpoints what is actually driving your TMJ and jaw pain — not just where it hurts.
Hands-on treatment to calm symptoms
Skilled manual therapy — joint mobilization and soft-tissue work — eases pain and frees up movement so the area starts to feel like yours again.
Targeted exercise that rebuilds
We coach you through progressive, specific movement that restores the strength, mobility and control that keep TMJ and jaw pain from returning.
A plan that makes relief last
You leave with a clear home program and practical guidance on posture, activity and daily habits, and we measure your progress and adjust as you improve.
Recovering after jaw surgery or dental work
If you have had jaw surgery or extensive dental treatment, gentle therapy can restore comfortable opening, ease muscle guarding and speed your return to normal eating and speaking. We progress carefully in coordination with your provider.
This page is general education, not a diagnosis. Jaw pain with chest pain or shortness of breath needs emergency care; a jaw locked open or shut, or pain after facial trauma, should be evaluated promptly.
Why patients choose ProKinetics
One therapist, one hour, every visit
You work one-on-one with the same licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy — never handed off to aides or shared across three tables at once.
Hands-on care, not a gym floor
Skilled manual therapy is central to how we treat, paired with movement that actually addresses what is driving your pain.
Two NYC clinics
See us in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn or Chelsea, Manhattan — with early and evening times that fit around work.
Most insurance, no referral needed
We accept most major plans and New York lets you start PT directly, so you can book an evaluation without a doctor’s note.
Common questions
Can physical therapy really help my jaw?
Will you work with my dentist?
Do I need a referral?
Ease your jaw, quiet the headaches
Book a TMJ evaluation at our Bensonhurst or Chelsea clinic — most major insurance accepted.
