Jaw Region Pain (Suspected muscular overuse)
Jaw Region Pain (Suspected muscular overuse)
Case Description: The patient is an 18 y/o female with a ~5 mo hx of bilateral jaw region pain with the L being notably worse than the R. Her jaw pain started over a month-long period where she was very stressed with school and had been practicing saxophone for multiple hours each day. At this time, she was practicing for a college music scholarship and was nervous that her jaw pain would interfere with her upcoming school year, knowing she’d have to play much more often. Not only was her jaw pain limiting her saxophone playing, but it was also making wide opening difficult and she was having to adjust her diet to avoid heavy chewing and crunchy foods. She had also been experiencing daily temple region headaches.
Intervention: The patient was seen for 8 physical therapy visits over 6 wks
| Opening | Treatment / Function | |
| Initial Evaluation (IE) | 28 mm at onset of pain | Diet modification, light self-massage, temporary break from saxophone to rest jaw |
| 2 weeks after IE | 36 mm at onset of pain | Light jaw stretching routine, exercise vary posture while studying, re-introduction of saxophone playing |
| 4 weeks after IE | 46 at onset of pain | Re-introduction of a normal diet with crunchy chewy foods, full participation on her normal saxophone practice routine |
| Discharge (6 wks after IE) | 55+ mm without pain | Education in an advanced home program to maintain and improve upon results. Pt. reported eating a normal diet and resuming playing saxophone as much as she wanted |
Summary: Pt. presentation was consistent with muscular overuse and likely temporalis tendinopathy. Onset occurred during a period of increased life stress and relative overuse while pursuing her goals of playing saxophone at a high level. With consistent treatment and an advanced home program she reached her goal of playing saxophone without residual pain and was able to resume her normal diet. She was very satisfied with her results and confident in her home exercise program.
Patient Comments at Discharge: “I can play my saxophone as much as I want and go through day-to-day activities with little to no jaw pain.”