Singer LeAnn Rimes has gone viral for her reaction while receiving jaw release therapy.
In a session with Gary Lineham, co-founder of Human Garage in California — a resource for self-healing practices — Rimes received an intra-oral massage, which relieved tension in her jaw. Sitting on the table sobbing, she immediately began to feel relief.
According to experts, jaw release therapy, which involves massaging or stretching the facial muscles, is popular for relieving TMJ pain, headaches and jaw clicking.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Lineham shared that stress has an immense impact on human health, especially muscle tension and pain.
“We have emotions in our bodies,” he said. “Emotions cause a sympathetic response or stress response in the body.”
“Stress is something that affects every disease, whether it’s emotional or physical, whether it’s genetic,” he adds. “Stress is the thing that makes genetics popular. If you take away the stress, those genetic markers no longer express themselves.”
According to Lineham, jaw clenching can cause tension, which naturally occurs with physical and emotional exertion.
“If you clench your jaw and hold it there for three to five minutes … you’ll actually activate adrenaline and norepinephrine (hormones and neurotransmitters),” he said.
This sends a message to the body that you’re ready to “attack,” Lineham said, releasing stress-like hormones.
“When you release the jaw, you immediately come out of fight or flight mode.”
How does jaw release work?
Jaw release therapy targets the fascia, or connective tissue that supports the body’s muscles, organs and joints. Stretching the fascia also stretches the muscles, which provides relief, Lineham said.
“When you release the jaw, immediately you come out of that fight or flight mode,” he said. “And if you’ve been there a long time, as most people have, it immediately shocks the nervous system in a good way.”
Dr. Justin Richer, oral and maxillofacial surgeon at Riverside Oral Surgery in New Jersey, shared the benefits and risks of jaw release treatment with Fox News Digital.
Some muscles in the body, such as the shoulders or back, can become tense and “overreact to problems going on within them,” said the doctor, who did not treat RIMS.
“Releasing the jaw is almost like a massage or similar technique to apply pressure to the muscles and release the tension that has built up,” he said. “It’s not something a lot of people do.”
According to Richer, this procedure is most beneficial for people with symptoms of TMJ, facial and muscle pain and stiffness.
Some physical therapists and massage therapists offer this treatment, but Richer recommends seeking help from an oral-facial pain specialist or surgeon who “really understands the anatomy of the jaw joint.”
“If it’s done properly, the risk is very low,” he said. “What we worry about is inappropriate manipulation of the joint, so either breaking or deforming or trying to forcefully move the joint… that can really cause undue harm from an orthopedic standpoint.”
Despite the benefits, Richer stressed that this type of therapy can be a temporary solution, as it can only treat the symptoms of the underlying problem.
“Get a diagnosis first before you go ahead and start tinkering with things,” he advised.
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