Your jaw pain keeps coming back because no one is treating your neck.
A clinic in Vancouver where a chiropractor and physiotherapist treat the cervical spine, posture, and concussion history that drive jaw and TMJ symptoms. Because they usually do.
Book an AssessmentThe pattern you've probably been living with
You wake up with a sore jaw. You clench at your desk. The clicking comes and goes. The headaches sit behind your eyes or wrap around the base of your skull. Sometimes your neck is the loudest thing. Sometimes it's the jaw. Sometimes it's both, and you've stopped trying to figure out which one started it.
You've maybe seen a dentist. Maybe a massage therapist. Maybe a physio who pressed on your jaw muscles for a few sessions and sent you home with a stretch. The symptoms quiet down for a few weeks and then they come back, usually worse during a stressful month or after a long stretch at the computer.
If you had a concussion at any point in the last few years, the picture probably got more confusing, not less.
Why standard TMJ care keeps missing it
The jaw and the upper neck share nerves, muscles, and mechanics. Treat the jaw alone and the neck stays loaded. That's a common reason TMJ symptoms return after isolated treatment.
Here is what gets missed in most Vancouver TMJ work:
No cervical assessment
The upper neck and the jaw share nerves, muscles, and mechanics. Treat the jaw without the neck and the relief is temporary.
No concussion screening
A meaningful share of patients with a concussion history develop lingering neck pain, jaw pain, or both. If a head injury sits anywhere in your history, it belongs in the assessment.
Single-discipline thinking
A dentist treats the teeth. A chiro treats the spine. A physio treats the muscles. You end up coordinating your own care and repeating your story to three different people.
No upstream view
Posture, breathing pattern, and load tolerance drive recurrence. Manual therapy without addressing the pattern is a holding action, not a recovery.
How we treat it
This program is delivered jointly by a chiropractor and a physiotherapist working in the same clinic, on the same patient, with one coordinated plan.
The clinical logic is straightforward. Your jaw is mechanically and neurologically coupled to your cervical spine. Your cervical spine is often the first thing affected by a concussion. The same postural and breathing patterns that aggravate the jaw also load the neck. Treating any one of these in isolation leaves the others untouched, which is why the symptoms keep returning.
We assess the neck, posture, and concussion history together, and treat the pattern rather than just the jaw. Direct intra-oral (inside the mouth) joint work is outside our scope. Where that level of care is indicated, we coordinate with a dentist or oral-facial pain specialist as part of your plan.
What's in the program
- ·Joint or sequential intake with the chiropractor and physiotherapist, depending on your presentation
- ·Cervical spine evaluation and hands-on treatment
- ·External jaw and postural muscle work targeting the muscles feeding your TMJ symptoms
- ·Concussion-rehab screening if there is relevant history
- ·A home program built for your case, covering postural work, breathing mechanics, and jaw exercises
- ·A shared care plan between practitioners, reviewed across visits
- ·Direct communication with your dentist or referring provider when relevant
What to expect across treatment
Most patients see meaningful change in 6 to 10 sessions over 6 to 10 weeks. Chronic or post-concussion cases can run longer. We review your plan every 3 to 4 visits and adjust based on what's changing.
The first session is 60 minutes. You'll be seen by either Patrick, Nico, or both, depending on your intake. We take a full history including any head injury, dental work, and the load pattern in your life right now. We assess the cervical spine, your posture, and your breathing, and screen the jaw for how it's tracking with the rest of the pattern. You leave with a working diagnosis, the first round of treatment, two or three things to do at home, and a plan for the next visit.
No upsell. No package pressure. You decide whether the plan is worth your time.
Who this is for
- ·Adults with chronic or recurring jaw pain, clicking, or jaw-related headaches tied to neck tension or posture
- ·Patients post-concussion with lingering TMJ or neck symptoms after initial rehab
- ·Patients referred by a dentist for the cervical and postural side of a TMJ presentation
- ·Active adults whose symptoms are interfering with sleep, work, or training
Who this isn't for
- ·Acute dental pathology (an abscess, fracture, or untreated decay needs your dentist first)
- ·Patients who specifically need intra-oral joint assessment or treatment (we refer to a dentist or oral-facial pain specialist for this)
- ·Cases where surgical TMJ intervention has already been recommended and is the right next step
If we don't think we're the right fit, we'll tell you in the first visit and refer you to someone who is.
The team treating you
Patrick Payne, Chiropractor
Treats cervical and postural presentations with manual therapy, chiropractic adjustment, and progressive rehabilitation, including neck and jaw-related headache patterns.
Nicolas Marchant, Physiotherapist
Built his concussion-rehab practice in co-location with Advanced Concussion Clinic, working alongside neurologists and vestibular specialists on the post-concussion population that ends up presenting with TMJ symptoms.
Together they treat the cervical and postural drivers behind your jaw symptoms. For direct intra-oral joint work, we coordinate with your dentist or an oral-facial pain specialist.
Clinic Location & Access
Located at 1367 West Broadway in Vancouver, Motion Theory is situated in the Fairview medical corridor, in close proximity to Vancouver General Hospital (VGH). We serve patients from Kitsilano, Mount Pleasant, and the broader Metro Vancouver area.
Frequently asked
Is this covered by extended health?
Yes. Chiropractic and physiotherapy are both claimable under most extended health plans. We submit directly for major insurers.
Can I use this for an ICBC claim?
Yes if the jaw or cervical symptoms relate to a motor vehicle accident. We handle ICBC billing directly. You don't pay out of pocket.
Do you do intra-oral (inside the mouth) TMJ treatment?
No. Our approach treats the cervical spine, posture, and muscular pattern feeding your jaw symptoms. For direct intra-oral joint work, we refer to a dentist or oral-facial pain specialist and coordinate care with them.
How many sessions does this usually take?
Most patients see meaningful change in 6 to 10 visits over 6 to 10 weeks. Chronic or post-concussion cases can run longer. We review your plan every 3 to 4 visits.
Do you coordinate with my dentist, oral surgeon, or ENT?
Yes. The jaw pain patient often has more than one provider involved. We coordinate directly with whoever else is on your care team, with your consent.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can book directly. If you have a referral from a dentist, GP, or another provider, bring it and we'll incorporate it into your plan.
Book an assessment
If the jaw, the neck, or the residue of a concussion is interfering with your life, the first step is a 60-minute assessment with the team that treats the pattern, not just the symptom.
Book an Assessment1367 West Broadway, Vancouver. Direct billing for most extended health plans, ICBC, and WSBC.
Registered Clinicians
All practitioners are registered with their respective provincial colleges in British Columbia.
Evidence-Based
Treatment protocols are grounded in current peer-reviewed literature and clinical guidelines.
Direct Billing
Available for ICBC claims and most major extended health benefit providers.