Luca Horbacki
Performance Physio, Rehab Physio, TMJ Specialist
Jaw pain (TMJ) physiotherapy
Strength and conditioning
Physiotherapy
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Jaw pain (TMJ) physiotherapy
If your jaw's been aching, clicking, or making it hard to enjoy a meal without thinking about it, that's exactly the kind of thing we're here to properly get to the bottom of.
Symptoms we commonly treat
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Jaw pain
Aching and clicking in the temporomandibular joint.
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Headaches
Tension-type headaches arising from the jaw and neck.
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Bruxism
Teeth grinding causing jaw muscle fatigue and soreness.
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Limited mouth opening
Reduced range of motion in the jaw joint.
About jaw physiotherapy
Most people's instinct, when their jaw starts hurting or catching, is to book in with a dentist. That's a reasonable place to start, but physiotherapy is often the more effective first step, because the joint itself, the temporomandibular (TMJ) joint, sitting just in front of each ear and connecting your lower jaw to your skull, is a musculoskeletal joint like any other, and one of the most used and most complex in the body. Unlike almost anywhere else, your left and right TMJ work as a single coordinated unit. You don't get one side of your jaw opening without the other, which is part of what makes things feel so disruptive when something goes wrong.
When these joints aren't properly cared for, the result is often what's called TMD, temporomandibular joint disorder or dysfunction. It's a genuinely whole-body condition rather than something confined to your jaw and teeth, and it's more common than people realise, with research suggesting roughly a third of people will experience TMJ pain at some point, most often women between 20 and 40.
TMJ physiotherapy can help with a wide range of things, including:
- Jaw pain and tenderness
- Limited range of motion
- Clicking, popping or grating sounds
- Headaches or migraines
- Ear pain or earache
- Tinnitus
- Facial pain or fatigue
- A bite that feels off, or has changed
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Bruxism (grinding, gnashing or clenching)
- Dizziness and vision problems
- Recovery from dental work
About your appointment with us
Your first appointment starts with a proper conversation, about the problem itself, but also anything that might be feeding into it: previous trauma to the head, recent dental work, stress, medication (some antidepressants, for instance, can contribute to TMD as a side effect), and any neck or shoulder issues you've noticed alongside it. Your physiotherapist will also watch how you move through certain jaw and neck movements. Once they've got a clear picture of what's going on, they'll usually move straight into treatment during that same appointment.
From there, your plan is built entirely around you, with your physiotherapist advising on how many sessions you're likely to need. Treatment might include targeted jaw strengthening and stretching, postural and upper body work, general fitness advice, manual therapy such as joint mobilisation and soft tissue release, and dry needling, a technique using a thin, solid needle to work directly on muscle tension and trigger points, similar to acupuncture, to help ease pain and restore movement.
- Book online Whether you're paying yourself or through insurance, book online in minutes.
- Find a Physiotherapist Each clinician is chosen for their expertise, their specialism, and the difference they make.
- Find your closest clinic With 14 clinics across London, Poole and Lindfield, you’re never far from one of our teams.
Meet our jaw pain experts
Meet the Six Physio specialists who deliver our jaw pain physiotherapy.
Julia Paioff
Rehab Physio, TMJ Specialist, Vestibular Physiotherapist
Physiotherapy
Jaw pain (TMJ) physiotherapy
Dizziness (Vestibular) physiotherapy
Jake Brettkelly
Clinic Director, Manual Physio, TMJ Specialist, Vestibular Physiotherapist
Physiotherapy
Jaw pain (TMJ) physiotherapy
Dizziness (Vestibular) physiotherapy
Emily Norton
Consultant Physiotherapist, Pilates Physio, Running Specialist, TMJ Specialist
Physiotherapy
Jaw pain (TMJ) physiotherapy
Pilates and classes
Natalia Kaczmarek
Clinic Director, Consultant Physiotherapist, TMJ Physiotherapist
Physiotherapy
Jaw pain (TMJ) physiotherapy
Yoni Fingleson
Manual Physio, Service Lead, TMJ Specialist, Vestibular Physiotherapist
Physiotherapy
Hand & wrist physiotherapy
Jaw pain (TMJ) physiotherapy
Max Gilbert
Clinic Director, Rehab Physio, TMJ Specialist, Vestibular Physiotherapist
Physiotherapy
Jaw pain (TMJ) physiotherapy
Dizziness (Vestibular) physiotherapy
Pricing
Clear pricing across all our services, with easy booking through insurance or self-pay.
Jaw pain (TMJ) and vestibular specialist physiotherapy initial assessment | 1-hour
£165
Jaw pain (TMJ) and vestibular specialist physiotherapy initial assessment | 30-minutes
£125
* Note: Prices may vary when booking depending on availability of Physiotherapist or Senior Physiotherapist.
Jaw pain (TMJ) and vestibular specialist physiotherapy initial assessment | 1-hour
£100-£104
Jaw pain (TMJ) and vestibular specialist physiotherapy initial assessment | 30-minutes
£74-£79
* Note: Prices may vary when booking depending on availability of Physiotherapist or Senior Physiotherapist.
FAQs
If your pain feels like it's coming from the joint or the muscles around it, rather than your teeth themselves, physiotherapy is usually the better first step. We're always happy to work alongside your dentist if there's a dental element too.
No. You can book an initial assessment directly with one of our TMJ specialists.
Yes, often more than people expect. Stress is one of the things we ask about at your first appointment, since clenching and grinding under stress is a common contributor to TMD.
Yes. Because the jaw sits so close to structures involved in hearing and shares muscles with the head and neck, TMJ dysfunction can show up as headaches, earache, or even tinnitus, not just jaw pain itself.
A thin, solid needle is inserted into the muscle to work directly on tension and trigger points. It's similar to acupuncture, and most people find it more of an unusual sensation than a painful one.
It depends on what's going on and how long it's been building. Your physiotherapist will give you a clearer sense of that after your initial assessment, and treatment often begins in that very first session.
Locations
10 clinics offering Jaw pain (TMJ) physiotherapy
Six Physio Ashley Cross
- 1, Springfield Rd, Parkstone, Poole, BH14 0LG
- 01202 749514
- Closed today
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Six Physio Borough
- 50 Southwark Street, London SE1 1UN
- 020 8629 1629
- Closed today
Services available
Six Physio Chelsea
- 5 Jubilee Place, London SW3 3TD, UK
- 020 7036 0280
- Closed today
Services available
Six Physio Finchley Road
- The Lexington, 767 Finchley Road, London NW11 8DN, UK
- 020 3141 7474
- Closed today
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Six Physio Fitzrovia
- 19 Foley Street, London W1W 6DW, UK
- 020 7636 6353
- Closed today
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Six Physio Kensington
- 15 Young Street, London W8 5EH, UK
- 020 7937 8877
- Closed today
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Six Physio Lindfield
- 39 High Street, Lindfield, West Sussex RH16 2HJ, UK
- 01444 587587
- Closed today
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Six Physio Mansion House
- 30 Cannon Street, London, UK
- 020 3848 7070
- Closed today
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Six Physio Monument
- 24 Martin Lane, London EC4R 0DR, UK
- 020 3206 1082
- Closed today
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Six Physio Parsons Green
- 699 Fulham Road, London SW6 5UJ, UK
- 020 7371 7666
- Closed today
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Ready when you are
Book with a specialist who’ll take the time to understand what’s actually going on and stay with you until it’s properly sorted.