Radiation therapy is a powerful tool in the fight against head and neck cancers—but it can come with unintended consequences. One of the most common and challenging side effects is fibrosis, a condition marked by the excessive buildup of connective tissue in muscles and soft tissues. When fibrosis affects the jaw, neck, and facial region, it can lead to significant TMJ dysfunction, limiting mobility, causing pain, and making daily tasks like eating and speaking difficult.
What Is Fibrosis, and How Does It Affect the TMJ?
Fibrosis is the body’s response to tissue injury caused by radiation. As the body attempts to repair the damaged area, it deposits excessive collagen and scar tissue. In the head and neck, this can lead to tightness and stiffness in the muscles of the jaw (masseter, pterygoids), throat, and neck. As these tissues lose their elasticity, they can restrict the movement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), leading to:
- Decreased jaw opening (trismus)
- Jaw pain or stiffness
- Clicking or locking of the TMJ
- Difficulty chewing, speaking, or swallowing
- Referred pain to the ear, face, or head
Unfortunately, fibrosis tends to progress slowly over time if not addressed, often months or even years after cancer treatment ends.
The Role of Physical Therapy in Managing Radiation-Induced TMJ Dysfunction
Physical therapy is one of the most effective, non-invasive treatments available for managing TMJ dysfunction secondary to fibrosis. Rather than masking symptoms, physical therapists work to reverse the effects of tissue stiffening and improve overall movement and function.
Here’s how physical therapy helps:
1. Reduces Connective Tissue Tightness
Through gentle manual therapy techniques like myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and soft tissue mobilization, physical therapists can reduce adhesions and improve flexibility in scarred or fibrotic tissue.
2. Improves Jaw and Neck Mobility
Targeted stretching and jaw mobilization exercises help increase mouth opening, decrease resistance in the TMJ capsule, and restore smoother jaw movement patterns.
3. Restores Facial and Neck Function
Therapists address surrounding structures like the upper cervical spine, sternocleidomastoid, and hyoid musculature to reduce strain, improve posture, and optimize functional coordination of the jaw and neck.
4. Educates and Empowers
Patients learn self-massage, stretching, and posture-correcting techniques they can perform daily at home—critical for long-term relief and preventing further restriction.
Final Thoughts
TMJ dysfunction caused by radiation-induced fibrosis is a unique and often underrecognized complication in head and neck cancer survivors. If you or a loved one is experiencing facial tightness, jaw stiffness, or reduced mouth opening after cancer treatment, physical therapy offers a proactive and personalized path to recovery. With the right treatment, it’s possible to reduce pain, improve function, and regain control of your jaw and neck health—without surgery or medication.
Looking for TMJ physical therapy near you?
If you’d like to learn more about general TMJ dysfunction and discover how physical therapy can help, check out our overview blog post: Understanding TMJ Dysfunction and How Physical Therapy Can Help.
TMJ Physical Therapy specializes in treating radiation-induced fibrosis and TMJ dysfunction with compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to your needs.
