Prone to getting headaches, especially at times when life is a little hectic?
We know – us too. And sure there is nothing like a throbbing head to put in spanner in all your other plans for the day, sure there isn’t? However, according to Well + Good, a physical therapist has a quick trick that’ll help you banish the pain in 10 seconds flat.
According to experts, tension headaches are the most common type of headache, and often start with something as simple as a clenched jaw. Tightening the masseter muscle—which connects your jawbone and cheekbone—can make other muscles in the area stiff, too, leading to the brain-area pangs. “When the force is too great, you can get tension headaches,” US physical therapist David Reavy tells Prevention. So, knowing how to do masseter muscle massage comes in handy.
Reavy says there is an exercise you can do that is a a simple way to release that built-up tension in your jaw, which in turn helps loosen the surrounding muscles and gets rid of your headache.
First, find the masseter muscle on each side of your face and apply gentle pressure with your fingers, says Reavy. “If you make a chewing motion, you’ll be able to feel it working and better pinpoint it.”
Next, slowly open your mouth as wide as you can, then slowly close your mouth. Repeat this motion until you feel your muscles release. “To start, I would do it a few times a day, especially if you tend to clench your teeth when you’re stressed. This not only helps with tension headaches, but also temporomandibular joint (TMJ),” he says.
