Neck pain is commonly associated with whiplash-associated disorder (WAD). Patients often report jaw or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain following a car accident, sports injury, or slip and fall.
Symptoms associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) include pain in the jaw joint area and neck and shoulder pain. Additionally, ear area pain with chewing or yawning, a “stuck” or locked feeling, and clicking, popping, or grating sounds with jaw movements can occur. Patients with TMD also feel like their teeth don’t fit well together. They will also report toothaches, headaches, dizziness, and tinnitus (ringing in the ear).
An MRI study of TMD following a WAD injury revealed joint effusion or swelling and/or disk displacement in more than half of the participants. Alterations in the thickness of the lateral pterygoid muscle (LPM) help open the mouth. Studies show that rear-end collisions can result in trauma to the muscles in the area of the TMJ. Also, along with its joint capsule and fibroelastic disk. Post-traumatic muscle imbalance can then perpetuate the problem and lead to chronic TMD.
Jaw Pain Study
A 2018 study found that patients with TMD following a whiplash injury (wTMD) have higher pain intensity scores. They also have worse exam findings, worse function, and greater muscle atrophy in the LPM than patients whose TMD resulted from another cause. The patients with wTMD were also more likely to have stress and headaches than the other TMD patients.
In conclusion, the authors believe that TMD is a common WAD injury. MRI findings of disk displacement and LPM alterations are found together. TMD from whiplash appears to involve a different mechanism than TMD from other types of trauma/no trauma.
Chiropractors are trained in the assessment and treatment of WAD, including TMD. TMD often involves a multi-faceted approach that includes manipulation, mobilization, and soft tissue techniques.
