Jaw pain relief: simple exercises may ease TMJ dysfunction

This completed study tested whether adding breathing exercises or back exercises to standard jaw muscle therapy could improve pain, jaw function, spine mobility, and mood in people with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. 63 adults aged 18-65 with muscle-related TMJ issues were split into three groups: jaw therapy alone, jaw therapy plus breathing exercises, or jaw therapy plus back exercises. All groups received 16 sessions over 8 weeks. The study measured pain, jaw function, oral habits, muscle thickness, spine posture, and psychological factors like stress and sleep quality.