Difficulty swallowing

Frequent sore throat, swallowing difficulties, and the sensation of a “lump in the throat” may be linked to temporomandibular joint problems, most commonly caused by tight chewing muscles. Several factors may contribute to excessive tension in the chewing muscles, including daytime and/or nighttime clenching, forward head posture, poor overall posture, traumatic injury to the jaw joint, radiation therapy, or tongue-thrust swallowing. Increased overload leads to the formation of trigger points — characteristic, palpable knots within the muscle that produce referred pain when pressure is applied. Trigger points developing in the chewing and neck muscles are common causes of swallowing difficulties, such as the “lump in the throat” sensation during swallowing.

During TMJ physiotherapy, we identify the possible underlying factors contributing to muscle tightness. Through manual soft-tissue techniques and relaxation-oriented jaw exercises, we reduce the tension of the overactive chewing muscles. Lifestyle guidance supports the achievement of long-term improvement.