Jaw locking or clicking can be thought of as a dysfunction of the jaw joint (TMJ) and the articular disc that lives inside this joint. This presentation is also caled ‘TMJ disc derangement’.

Important side note: There are other medical conditions such as tetanus and cancers that are associated with locked jaw but for the purpose of this page we are focusing on the locked jaw causes of musculoskeletal origins (the muscles and bones). Please see your GP if you are concerned about your presentation.  

The TMJ is an inherently free/mobile joint that allows us to speak, swallow and chew effortlessly. But with an increase in mobility comes an increase in demand for stability and thus the TMJ is heavily influenced and dependent on the surrounding connective tissue.

How can jaw locking or clicking (TMJ disc derangement) be treated?

Once a patient has been medically cleared, literature has demonstrated positive outcomes associated with manual therapy treatment of ‘TMJ disc derangement’ as manual therapy can directly treat the dysfunctional surrounding connective tissues.

Osteopaths, as manual practitioners, can work with patients experiencing clicking or locking of the jaw by targeting the following: 

1. Underlying muscle, joint or ligamentous strain. 

2. Postural alignment to impact the position of the jaw. 

3. Address any unhelpful long term habits that prevent a patient from achieving a full recovery.

The choice of these specific techniques will largely depend on the dysfunction that is found in an individual patient. Therefore, TMJ disc derangement should be tailored to the specific patient’s needs.

Please see the ‘part 2’ video above for DIY exercises.

For more information, please see our article ‘Help! My jaw is clicking. My jaw is locked"‘.

For recent academic literature on this topic please see the following three articles:

Diagnosis and Treatment of Myogenous Temporomandibular Disorders: A Clinical Update. (2022)

TMJ Dysfunction and Systemic Correlation. (2020)

The Application of Manual Techniques in Masticatory Muscles Relaxation as Adjunctive Therapy in the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders. (2021)

We know that the best approach to a clicking or locking jaw is an individualised one from a trained healthcare professional. You can simply book an Osteopathy appointment with us today using the link below.