LeAnn Rimes, the renowned singer, captured widespread attention online due to her emotional response during a jaw release therapy session.
During a session with Garry Lineham, co-founder of California’s Human Garage — a center dedicated to self-healing techniques — Rimes underwent an intra-oral massage designed to alleviate tension in her jaw. The treatment appeared to provide immediate comfort, as she was observed weeping with relief on the treatment table.
Experts suggest that jaw release therapy, a treatment involving the massage or stretching of facial muscles, is widely sought after for alleviating discomfort associated with TMJ, headaches, and jaw clicking.
Speaking to Fox News Digital, Lineham emphasized the profound effect of stress on human well-being, particularly concerning muscle tightness and discomfort.
“Our bodies store emotions,” he stated. “These emotions trigger a sympathetic, or stress, response within the physiological system.”
“Stress influences every ailment, be it emotional, physical, or genetic,” he elaborated. “It’s the catalyst that activates genetic predispositions. By eliminating stress, those genetic markers cease to manifest.”
Jaw clenching, as per Lineham, can induce stress and is a natural occurrence during periods of physical and emotional strain.
“Sustained jaw clenching for a duration of three to five minutes can provoke the release of adrenaline and norepinephrine (both hormones and neurotransmitters),” he explained.
This action signals to the body an anticipation of an “attack,” consequently releasing stress-related hormones, Lineham further noted.
“Releasing the jaw immediately transitions you out of the fight or flight response.”
Understanding Jaw Release Therapy
According to Lineham, jaw release therapy focuses on the fascia, the connective tissue that underpins muscles, organs, and joints throughout the body. By stretching this fascia, muscles can also extend, thereby offering relief.
“The moment the jaw is released, you instantly exit that fight or flight state,” he explained. “For individuals who have been stuck in that state for prolonged periods, as many are, it delivers an immediate and beneficial jolt to the nervous system.”
Dr. Justin Richer, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon with Riverside Oral Surgery in New Jersey, discussed the advantages and potential drawbacks of jaw release therapy in an interview with Fox News Digital.
The physician, who was not Rimes’s practitioner, noted that specific bodily muscles, like those in the shoulder or back, can become taut and “exaggerate their response to internal issues.”
“Jaw release resembles a massage or comparable method, applying pressure to muscles to allow accumulated tension to simply dissipate,” he clarified. “It’s not a widely adopted practice.”
Richer indicated that this procedure offers the greatest advantage to individuals experiencing symptoms like TMJ, facial and muscular pain, and general tightness.
While some physical and massage therapists provide this treatment, Richer advises consulting an oral-facial pain specialist or surgeon who possesses “a thorough understanding of the jaw joint’s anatomy.”
“Executed correctly, the risks are very low,” he affirmed. “Our concern lies with improper manipulation of the joint, such as cracking, distorting, or attempting to forcefully relocate it… which can lead to significant orthopedic damage.”
Notwithstanding its advantages, Richer emphasized that this therapeutic approach might only offer a temporary solution, as it could merely address the symptoms rather than the root cause of an issue.
“Obtain a proper diagnosis before proceeding with any manipulative treatments,” he cautioned.