@drjoedamiani: The Lateral Pterygoid Muscle could be causing your jaw clicking or popping! If your jaw clicks, pops, or feels like it shifts when you open, one possible contributor is the lateral pterygoid muscle. 💡 What’s happening? The lateral pterygoid helps control jaw movement and has attachments to the TMJ disc. When this muscle becomes tight or overactive, it may pull excessively on the disc, contributing to poor mechanics and potentially playing a role in clicking or popping. TMJ clicking is complex and can have multiple causes, but dysfunction of this muscle is one commonly discussed factor. 🔥 Why this matters When the muscle stays tight, it can interfere with smooth jaw movement and make opening and closing feel less coordinated. Releasing it may help reduce tension around the joint and improve movement quality. 🛠️ Lateral pterygoid release 1.) Position the jaw Open your mouth and shift toward the side you're treating. 2.) Find the muscle Place your finger inside your mouth along the outside of the upper teeth and move as far back and up as possible until you feel the "ceiling" of the area. 3.) Apply pressure Press upward into the muscle and hold, or gently work up and down through the tissue. 4.) Stay relaxed Keep your mouth open while performing the release to better access the muscle. Improving mobility and reducing tension in the lateral pterygoid may help support smoother jaw movement and reduce clicking-related dysfunction. #jawpain #tmj #jawpopping #tmjdisorder #mobility

Dr. Joe Damiani, DPT

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Tuesday 09 June 2026 13:00:00 GMT