Pain, clicking or locking in the jaw can affect how you eat, talk, sleep and concentrate, and it is frequently missed or misdiagnosed. At Altius Healthcare, our physiotherapy team includes clinicians specifically trained in the assessment and treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), the clinical name for problems affecting the jaw joint, the muscles around it, and the disc inside the joint. Most people search for this as TMJ (the temporomandibular joint itself), so you may see it described either way.

TMD is rarely about the jaw alone. Because the jaw, neck and head are closely connected, jaw problems often present alongside headaches, neck pain and ear symptoms. Our assessment looks at the whole picture rather than treating a single symptom, and where appropriate we work alongside dentists and maxillofacial colleagues so your care is joined up.

Book a TMJ assessment: 0161 401 1000 · Book online

What is TMD? (Temporomandibular Disorder)

TMD stands for temporomandibular disorders, meaning symptoms in and around the jaw region. It can involve the muscles that move the jaw, the temporomandibular joint itself, the disc that sits between the joint surfaces, and for some people it produces ear symptoms too. It is a common, treatable condition, and the large majority of cases respond well to conservative, physiotherapy-led treatment without surgery.

Symptoms of TMD We Treat

TMD can cause one, some or all of the following. You don’t need every symptom to have TMD:

• Ache or pain in the jaw or around the jaw area
• Clicking and popping when opening or closing the mouth
• Locking of the jaw, open or closed
• Headaches, often around the temples
• Ear symptoms such as a feeling of fullness or tinnitus, with no ear infection
• Neck pain that travels with the jaw symptoms

Ear and headache symptoms are exactly why TMD is so often missed: many people are assessed for the ear or the headache in isolation, when the driver is the jaw. A focused jaw assessment identifies whether the temporomandibular joint, the muscles, or the disc is responsible before any treatment begins.

How We Assess and Treat TMD

Your first appointment includes a thorough clinical assessment of the jaw joint, the surrounding muscles, your bite and movement pattern, and, importantly, your neck, since neck dysfunction frequently feeds jaw symptoms. From that assessment we build a treatment plan that targets the root cause of your pain rather than just the symptom. Depending on your presentation, your plan may include one or more of the following:

Advice and Education

Understanding what is driving your TMD, and what makes it better or worse day to day, is often the single most effective part of treatment. We explain your specific presentation and give you a clear plan you can follow.

Hands-On Treatment: Massage and Joint Mobilisations

Targeted soft tissue massage of the jaw and surrounding muscles, combined with gentle joint mobilisations, to reduce muscular tension, ease pain and restore normal jaw movement.

Facial Acupuncture

Where muscular tension and pain are prominent, facial acupuncture can be used to settle the muscles around the jaw and reduce pain. It is delivered by clinicians trained in its use as part of a wider TMD treatment plan.

TMD Exercise Rehabilitation

A tailored programme of jaw-specific exercises, including jaw alignment work, stretching and strengthening, to restore controlled, pain-free movement and reduce the likelihood of recurrence. This is the part of treatment that creates lasting change, and it is matched to your stage of recovery.

Stress Management and Self-Management

Because clenching, grinding, sleep and stress all influence TMD, we include practical jaw-relaxation techniques, general exercise and sleep advice, plus pain-relieving methods and self-treatment techniques you can do at home between appointments.

Working Alongside Dentists

TMD often sits at the border of physiotherapy and dentistry. Some patients benefit from a dental splint or bite appliance alongside hands-on physiotherapy and rehabilitation. We work alongside local dentists so that, where both are needed, your jaw care is coordinated rather than fragmented, and we will refer or liaise directly where it’s in your interest.

Your TMD Specialist Team

Kate Hindley, Consultant Physiotherapist (HCPC PH97460), completed dedicated postgraduate training in TMD in 2022 and has extensive experience assessing and treating the full range of TMD presentations: muscular symptoms, disc displacements, TMD-related headaches, and associated neck and ear symptoms. Kate leads TMD care at our Manchester clinic.

Doug Jones, Director and founder (HCPC PH78566), also treats TMD. Doug’s background spans elite sport, including roles with Sale Sharks, London Wasps and England Rugby, and as Health and Performance Director at Red Bull, bringing high-level rehabilitation principles to every patient.

All our physiotherapists hold HCPC registration and are members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

Book Your TMJ Assessment

We assess and treat TMD across our Greater Manchester clinics. Kate leads TMD care in Manchester; TMD treatment is also available at Bury and Hale. Choose the location most convenient for you:

Manchester City Centre

Bloc 17, Marble Street, Manchester, M2 3AW
Two-minute walk from St Peter’s Square Metrolink stop.
0161 401 1000 · Book online

Bury

6 Bolton St, Ramsbottom, Bury, BL0 9HX
0161 401 1000 · Book online

Hale

The Old Barn, 30B Park Road, Hale, WA15 9NN
0161 401 1000 · Book online

TMJ Disorder: Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between TMJ and TMD?

TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint, the actual jaw joint. TMD stands for temporomandibular disorder, the umbrella term for problems affecting that joint, its muscles and disc. Most people use “TMJ” to describe the condition; clinically it’s “TMD”. They refer to the same set of problems.

Can physiotherapy fix TMJ / jaw problems?

Yes. The majority of TMD cases respond well to conservative, physiotherapy-led treatment: hands-on therapy, jaw-specific exercise rehabilitation, facial acupuncture and self-management, without the need for surgery. Treatment is most effective when it targets the specific cause identified at assessment.

Why does my jaw click?

Jaw clicking is usually related to the disc inside the temporomandibular joint moving differently as you open and close. Clicking on its own, without pain or locking, isn’t always a problem, but clicking with pain, locking or restricted movement is worth assessing.

Do I need a referral to be seen for TMD?

No. You can book a TMD assessment directly. No GP or dental referral is required. Where a dental splint or dental input is also needed, we work alongside local dentists to coordinate your care.

Can TMD cause headaches or ear symptoms?

Yes. Because the jaw, neck and head are closely connected, TMD commonly causes headaches (often around the temples) and ear symptoms such as fullness or tinnitus with no underlying ear infection. These are among the most commonly missed signs of TMD.