LeAnn Rimes’ Deep Jaw Release

First, the good. 👍🏽

The whole world now knows jaw release is a thing.

Jaw release, in this case, a lateral pterygoid release, is a legit treatment technique, I use this with my patients with jaw issues and singers with jaw tension.

For people with jaw pain, this can offer pain relief and improve symptoms of catching and popping.

For singers with jaw tension, this can alleviate tension, restore jaw movement which then improves your articulation and resonance.

It works very well.

And that is where the list of good ends.

What I disliked about it, actually what bothered me LOTS, were:

• How firm his hands were 👎🏽
• How after he found the sore spot, he leaned in and went pokey pokey 👎🏽
• There were 2 people holding her down 👎🏽
• He told her to “hold on” 👎🏽

Yes, there’s a lot on this list so let’s unpack it all.

First, this is not a nice treatment to have done, because that muscle is often very cranky, sensitive, and painful, which is why I use a super light touch when I do this technique. 🪶

In the video you can see how firm his hands were, at one point his hands even twitched! I know from experience that twitch only happens when I’m using a LOT of force with my hands, which in my opinion is inappropriate and unnecessary when working on such a sensitive area. 🙅🏻‍♀️

When I do this, or any intra-oral technique for that matter, once I hit a sore spot, I pause, reverse, and I ask my patient:

• Are you ok?
• Do you want me to stop? (In case they forgot to use their Stop Sign)

And I only proceed when I have permission to, so seeing someone lean their body weight in and go pokey pokey with very firm hands tells me the intension there was to inflict pain. As a clinician, that disgusted me. 🤮

Next, this is one of the lightest and easiest technique for the clinician, even for a petite human like me, which is why I love treating the jaw cos it’s not physically taxing for me.

I have never in my 26 years of being a physio needed someone to help hold my patient down whilst I work on their jaw.

It really bothered me to see TWO people holding a woman down whilst doing a super painful technique to her and the worst part of it all? The red flag for me? He told her to “hold on”!!!! 🚩

That simple “hold on” instantly removed her agency, LeAnn was no longer in charge and was at the mercy of whatever they wanted to do to her. 👎🏽

Most woman would find that experience confronting to say the least and in my opinion has no place in manual therapy. 😠

Patient’s Agency is paramount. Patient comfort is a bare minimum. Informed Consent non-negotiable!!!

As clinicians, we must be aware of the innate power imbalance that exists between provider and patient to ensure people truly understand what they are opting into and that they can OPT OUT at anytime.

This is why I always take time to:

• Explain to my patients what intra-oral work involves and what to expect
• Emphasise that we are only aiming for “comfortably uncomfortable”
• Give them time to ask questions
• Ensure they know they are in charge 100% of the time, they can take breaks and stop the treatment any time they want
• Do a Dress Rehearsal for the Stop Sign so they know exactly what to do when they need to use it (It is weird to have a hand in your mouth then a stab of pain hits and you can’t really talk)

And most importantly, above all else, I stop immediately when they use the Stop Sign, each and every single time so they know their boundaries will always be respected and their no means no.

So no, I don’t love what I saw. 👎🏽

To be clear, I’m NOT saying jaw release is bad.

What I’m saying is that

• Harder is NOT better.
• More dramatic is NOT more effective.
• Not everyone cries, it still works without the tears.
• You most certainly don’t need to be held down for a jaw release.
• And YOU, the person receiving manual therapy, should be 100% in charge of what is being done to you.

If you watch LeAnn’s video and get a full body “Hell yes, I want this!” Great, you do you and I’m NOT the person to see for that experience. Just please remember this: Releasing the muscle alone won’t fix your problem, you also need a rehab plan to retrain movement and function.

And if you watch her video and have the slightest pause, I see you, and I say to trust that voice inside you and know that there are alternatives.

Lastly, if you don’t love your current experience, if you don’t feel safe and cared for, go elsewhere. You don’t have to subject yourself to undue pain in the name of treatment, healing, therapy, etc. You deserve better. 🫶🏽

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