Jaw clicking, popping, headaches, and that constant “tight” feeling in your face can make you feel like something is seriously wrong, especially when it flares up during eating, yawning, talking, or training. We sit down with Dr. Gianna Morton to get specific about TMJ dysfunction and TMJ pain, what patients actually report, and why the temporomandibular joint is a rehab-able joint with real physical therapy options.

We dig into TMJ anatomy in plain language: what the disc does, why the disc itself isn’t the source of pain, and how the surrounding tissues (capsule, ligaments, and muscles like the masseter, temporalis, and pterygoids) can drive symptoms. Then we get practical with assessment, including how jaw opening patterns like the S-curve and C-curve help us think about disc involvement, restriction, hypermobility, and neuromuscular control instead of just chasing noise.

A major theme is the jaw-neck connection. We talk trigeminal nerve pathways, upper cervical referral, and why treating the cervical spine, deep neck flexors, and scapular control often changes the game. We also address bite guards and night guards honestly: when they help (like bruxism and tooth wear), where they fall short, and why a multi-factor plan tends to work best. You’ll leave with simple, actionable habits (like tongue-to-roof resting posture) plus a clear view of treatment tools like joint mobilizations, soft tissue work, intraoral techniques, and dry needling.

If this helped you connect the dots on your jaw pain, subscribe, share it with a friend who clenches, and leave a review with the symptom you want us to tackle next.

Joint feeling cranky, stiff, or “lit up” after training, an injury, or just life? We’re making the case for a principle we live by in the clinic: motion is lotion. Not grinding through pain, not aggressive stretching, and not random workouts to “test it.” We’re talking about the right kind of movement that stays under your irritation threshold and helps your body feel safe again.

We dig into what’s happening inside the joint capsule, including the synovium and how movement triggers synovial fluid production. That lubrication matters for cartilage nutrition, smoother motion, and better support for nearby structures like ligaments, tendon insertion points, and the musculotendinous junction where strains often show up. We also get real about the nervous system side: irritated joints can create hypersensitive nerves that label normal motion as a threat, and gradual, pain-free movement is one of the best ways to turn that alarm down.

From there, we zoom out to the timeline of healing. Soft tissue remodeling and collagen turnover take weeks, so we explain how consistent range of motion work, isometrics, and low-level strength can support angiogenesis, organize scar tissue, and build tolerance without setting you back. Then comes the spicy part: smart, progressive resistance training and appropriate joint loading over the long haul may improve bone density and even support cartilage health, a hopeful angle for athletes thinking about arthritis and longevity.

If you want a simple framework for joint pain relief, mobility, rehab, and long-term durability, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a training partner, and leave a review so more driven athletes can find it.

Your knee starts clicking the moment you ramp up your runs, and suddenly every step feels like a question mark. We take that exact problem head-on, using a real-world scenario we see all the time: someone years removed from ACL reconstruction, excited to train for a 5K, but noticing new popping and clicking as mileage climbs.

We explain why the sound isn’t the whole story. Knee clicking often shows up when stability and strength haven’t caught up to impact demand, especially if post-surgery rehab ended early and the surgical leg never returned to 90 to 95% strength symmetry. Running makes this harder to hide because it’s a series of single-leg landings, and subtle compensations can repeat tens of thousands of times per week. Over time, that can drive irritation, mild swelling, extra joint fluid, and the kind of noisy feedback that gets your attention.

Then we shift into what to do next: the checkpoints we use to guide a safe return to running after ACL surgery, including restoring full range of motion (with knee extension as a priority), rebuilding quadriceps strength, improving eccentric control, balance, proprioception, and hip stability, and cleaning up running mechanics. We also share a practical interval run-walk approach to build impact tolerance without finishing swollen or sore, plus how we think about where the clicking comes from, including patellofemoral versus tibiofemoral sources and factors like ankle dorsiflexion and foot arch stability.

If you’re training for a 5K and your knee is getting loud, listen through, share this with a training partner, and subscribe for more practical performance rehab. After you listen, leave a review and tell us what your knee does when you run.