Serving the Roanoke, Virginia Community
Do you suffer from frequent headaches, jaw tension, or clicking and popping in the jaw? You’re not alone. Many people in Roanoke deal with these frustrating symptoms—but what most don’t realize is that the neck may be playing a much bigger role than expected.
At Highland Spine and Sport, we take a whole-body approach to pain and dysfunction. One of the most overlooked causes of TMJ (temporomandibular joint dysfunction) and tension headaches is poor movement or restriction in the cervical spine—the neck.
The muscles of your jaw, head, and neck all work together. When movement is limited in your cervical spine, or when neck muscles are overly tight, they can cause referred pain into the jaw, temples, and forehead. This can lead to:
Many of our patients in Roanoke come in thinking their problem is only in the jaw—but after a full evaluation, we often uncover that the neck is a major contributing factor.
Whether you’re spending long hours at a desk, clenching your jaw due to stress, or moving poorly during workouts, modern life tends to overwork and overstress the muscles and joints of the neck and jaw.
Some common contributors include:
These issues can create a cycle of tension and compensation that keeps your headaches and TMJ symptoms coming back.
At Highland Spine and Sport in Roanoke, we don’t just chase symptoms—we look at the whole picture. When it comes to headaches and TMJ pain, that often means starting with the neck.
Your personalized treatment plan may include: