Jaw, Neck, and Shoulder Pain on the Right Side: What’s the Connection?
In a place like Bend, OR where many people balance outdoor activity, work, and long days on their feet, at a desk, or on the trails, certain pain patterns tend to show up more than others.
These patterns can be frustrating, making it harder to stay active and care for your body while dealing with a nagging discomfort along the jaw, neck, and shoulder, especially when no single explanation seems to fit.
Jaw, neck, and shoulder pain on the right side are often connected because they share muscles, nerves, and movement patterns that influence one another.
At the same time, that overlap can feel unsettling, making it difficult to figure out where the pain is actually coming from.
The good news is that this type of right-sided pain doesn’t automatically mean there’s damage, and it’s more common than you might think.
In this post, we’ll explore how jaw, neck, and shoulder pain on the right side can be connected, including:
How jaw, neck and shoulder pain are connected
Common contributors to right-sided jaw, neck, and shoulder pain
When right-sided jaw, neck, and shoulder pain might benefit from physical therapy
What a holistic physical therapy approach to jaw, neck, and shoulder pain on the right side looks like
Small things you can notice right now to reduce jaw, neck, and shoulder pain
How jaw, neck, and shoulder pain are connected
Pain that shows up in the jaw, neck, and shoulder isn’t random. Our bodies are an integrated system and our neighboring joints and muscles can influence our movement and pain patterns.
For example, the neck acts as the “middle neighbor” between the jaw and shoulder.
If you have joint stiffness or muscle tension in your neck, it’s very likely to affect your jaw and/or your shoulder because of the shared muscles, nerves, movement patterns, and postural influences.
While you may feel pain only on the right side of your body, this one-sided pain isn’t something to fear. Rather, from a PT perspective, it’s often a sign that suggests physical therapy may be a helpful option for addressing your pain.
The neck and shoulder influence jaw tension and vice versa
Our posture, especially the position of our head, upper back, and shoulder blades in relation to the jaw significantly influences tension patterns.
The further forward the head sits from the body’s midline, the more tension the muscles of the neck and upper back must generate to hold the head up against gravity, essentially they are supporting the “bowling ball” of our head.
This forward head posture can also change the mechanics of the jaw, contributing to both pain at rest and with activities like chewing.
Common contributors to right-sided jaw, neck, and shoulder pain
While you may feel pain only on the right side, this one-sided pain is often related to hand dominance, repetitive loading, and sport or work habits.
Muscle tension and overuse patterns
Clenching your teeth, frequently chewing gum, or biting your nails can all contribute to increased tension in the muscles around your jaw.
Sitting or standing with a forward head position increases tension in the muscles at the front and back of the neck and causes the jaw to rest in a less optimal position, which can increase stress on both the joint and surrounding muscles.
Activities that rely heavily on the one side of your body such as pickleball, disc golf, holding the phone between your ear and shoulder, or driving, can also create overuse patterns that contribute to right-sided jaw, neck, and shoulder pain, especially if you are right-hand dominant.
Stress, nervous system load, and guarding
You may notice jaw or neck pain increase during periods of high stress. This is very common.
When the nervous system is overloaded, resting muscle tension often increases. This can show up as jaw clenching or lifting the shoulders toward the ears in a protective pattern.
It’s important to know that these patterns aren’t happening because you’re doing something wrong. They’re your nervous system’s way of trying to create safety, and these protective strategies are just one of the ways it does that.
Neck and upper back mobility or strength imbalances
Stiffness and weakness in the neck and upper back can shift load to the jaw and shoulder, requiring those areas to rely on compensatory patterns to work around mobility or strength limitations.
When we spend much of the day sitting at a desk and then jump into activities like pickleball, disc golf, or rock climbing, our bodies often benefit from more intentional warm-up and mobility work beforehand.
Breathing and rib cage mechanics
If you notice you frequently breathe through your mouth, have a hard time taking a deep breath, or feel tension in your neck and shoulders when you breathe deeply, it may be helpful to work with a physical therapist on your breathing pattern.
Improving rib cage and mid-back mobility and retraining your breathing to support a fuller, more relaxed breath often leads to meaningful decreases in jaw, neck, and shoulder pain.
When right-sided jaw, neck, and shoulder pain might benefit from physical therapy
Some signs that physical therapy may be helpful include:
Pain lasting > 2-3 weeks
Pain limiting daily or recreational movement
Recurring flare-ups
Feeling anxious about the cause of your pain
It’s important to know that physical therapy is much more than a list of exercises.
Physical therapy involves a thorough assessment of:
Movement patterns
Joint mobility
Muscle tension
Posture
As well as an exploration of how pain impacts:
Daily and work-related activities
Sports and recreation
Lifestyle
Overall well-being
Physical therapy often includes hands-on treatment, guidance for a home program focused on mobility and strengthening, postural re-education, and strategies that support the nervous system and reduce the impact of stress on pain.
What a holistic physical therapy approach to jaw, neck, and shoulder pain on the right side looks like
My holistic approach to physical therapy looks beyond where you’re experiencing pain and considers your whole-body, while also including mind-body awareness, nervous system support, and overall well-being.
Your care is always tailored to you, moves at your pace, and centers your lived experience as we co-create your treatment plan.
Treatments are focused on restoring confidence in your body’s ability to heal and improving trust in your movement patterns through a combination of hands-on work, movement, education, and self-care strategies.
Small things you can notice right now to reduce jaw, neck, and shoulder pain
Awareness of jaw tension during the day
Notice moments when you’re clenching your teeth, reaching for gum, biting your nails. These can be cues to check in with what’s happening in your body and your nervous system.
Noticing which side you lead with in daily tasks
Most people have a dominant side, which is totally normal. You may notice opportunities to modify some tasks to create more balanced right-left loading throughout your day.
Pauses for breath or softening without “correcting” posture
While I strongly believe there’s no single perfect posture, it can be helpful to notice how you hold your body throughout the day.
Finding simple cues that remind you to check in with your posture, wiggle, roll your shoulders, stand up for a few minutes, or take a slow breath while softening into the support of your chair can serve as quick resets throughout your day that help decrease jaw, neck, and shoulder tension.
Where to find physical therapy in Bend, OR for jaw, neck, and shoulder pain on the right side
The jaw, neck, and shoulder are connected and treating them together matters.
You don’t have to navigate your pain alone and it doesn’t have to stop you from being as active as you want.
Physical therapy can help uncover the contributors to your pain while helping you stay on the pickleball courts, slopes, and trails you love.
If you’re in or near Bend, Oregon, I offer personalized physical therapy treatment to help relieve your jaw, neck, and shoulder pain and support your return to movement.
You can get started by learning more about my physical therapy services in Bend, OR or by getting in touch with me.
If you have questions, I’d love to connect, hear how your jaw, neck, and shoulder pain is affecting your well-being, answer your questions, and explore how I can help.
You can schedule a free consultation here.
Disclaimer: this post is intended for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. If you are experiencing pain, it is always in your best interest to consult with your medical doctor and/or your physical therapist.
