A patient with forward head posture reports jaw pain. What is the contributing factor?

• A. Not related
• B. Improved posture reduces TMJ load
• C. Decreased TMJ load
• D. Increased TMJ load from posture

Answer: (D)

Postural alignment can change how the jaw joint is loaded. When the head sits forward, the head’s center of gravity shifts anterior to the spine, which often causes the jaw muscles to work harder to keep the bite stable. This increased activity and the altered position of the mandible place more compressive and shear forces on the temporomandibular joint and its supporting structures, contributing to jaw pain. So the contributing factor is increased TMJ load from posture. The idea that posture improvement could reduce this load aligns with the same mechanism, while options implying no relation or decreased load don’t explain why pain arises with forward head posture.