{"id":3681,"date":"2025-01-17T09:57:04","date_gmt":"2025-01-17T09:57:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/integrativa.pt\/?p=3681"},"modified":"2026-02-03T19:31:39","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T19:31:39","slug":"cervical-trigeminal-complex-and-neck-pain-the-relationship-with-the-temporomandibular-joint-atm-from-an-osteopathic-perspective","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/integrativa.pt\/en\/complexo-trigemino-cervical-e-dor-cervical-a-relacao-com-a-articulacao-temporomandibular-atm-numa-perspetiva-osteopatica\/","title":{"rendered":"Trigeminal-cervical complex and neck pain: the relationship with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) from an osteopathic perspective"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Neck pain is a common complaint in the adult population. Although it is often associated with alterations in the cervical spine, its origin is not always exclusively in this region. In certain clinical conditions, neck pain may be related to alterations in the trigeminal nerve, often associated with dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which may influence the manifestation or maintenance of symptoms.<\/p>\n

This relationship may be more relevant in situations of persistent or recurrent pain, in which approaches centred on the cervical spine alone have limited effectiveness.<\/p>\n

The trigeminal nerve and its relationship with neck pain<\/h4>\n

The trigeminal nerve is the fifth cranial nerve and plays a central role in the sensitivity of the face, oral cavity and part of the cranial region. In addition to its facial sensory function, it establishes functional links with the upper cervical segments, namely C1 and C2, through the trigeminal-cervical complex. This area of neurological convergence allows the integration of afferents from the craniofacial and cervical regions.<\/p>\n

This anatomical and functional interconnection may explain why alterations in the trigeminal system, associated with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), can manifest in the form of neck pain, even in the absence of relevant structural alterations in the cervical spine, a phenomenon described in the literature in the context of the trigeminal-cervical complex (Castien, 2019).<\/p>\n

Mechanisms involved in trigeminal-related neck pain<\/h4>\n

When the trigeminal nerve is sensitised, for example in the context of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, bruxism, persistent tension in the muscles of mastication, sinusitis or interventions in the craniofacial region, this sensitisation can have repercussions in the upper cervical segments. In these cases, the pain is perceived in the neck, even though its functional origin is related to cranial or orofacial structures.<\/p>\n

The process can also occur in the opposite direction. Cervical alterations, such as sustained muscle tension, mobility restrictions or inadequate postural patterns, can influence the upper cervical levels, which share neural pathways with the trigeminal nerve. This bidirectional mechanism can contribute to a cycle of perpetuating pain, making it difficult to resolve when only one of the regions is considered.<\/p>\n

From a clinical point of view, this reality reinforces the importance of not interpreting neck pain exclusively as a local problem.<\/p>\n

Clinical signs that may indicate trigeminal or temporomandibular joint involvement<\/h4>\n

Some signs may indicate the involvement of the trigeminal nerve or the TMJ in neck pain:<\/p>\n