The Hidden Muscle That Could Be Causing Your Jaw Pain

In this episode of the Pain and Performance Podcast, Dr. Derrick Hines explains how an often-overlooked muscle called the pterygoid may be contributing to jaw pain, clicking, popping, and TMJ dysfunction.He breaks down how tension in this muscle can alter jaw mechanics, create pressure on the jaw joint, and lead to pain on one or both sides of the face.Dr. Hines also shares a simple jaw retraining exercise and discusses why addressing muscle tension and movement patterns may be key to long-term relief.In This Episode-- The role of the pterygoid muscles in jaw movement-- How muscle tension can contribute to TMJ symptoms-- Why jaw pain is not always coming from the painful side-- Common symptoms including clicking, popping, and locking-- A simple exercise to improve jaw alignment and coordination-- How releasing tension may help restore normal jaw functionInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/derrickbhines/Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@DrDerrick#JawPain#TMJ#TMJRelief#PhysicalTherapy#PainRelief