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Tinnitus is a symptom that causes ringing, buzzing, or hissing sounds in your ears. It can be temporary or chronic, and its intensity varies from mild to severe. While the exact causes of tinnitus are not always clear, muscular tension in the neck and jaw is often associated with tinnitus. This is known as cervical or somatosensory tinnitus. Tense muscles in the neck and jaw can put pressure on the nerves and blood vessels in the area, leading to incorrect signals being sent along nerve pathways and causing the brain to interpret these signals as sound, resulting in tinnitus. Treatment options for cervical or somatosensory tinnitus include neck exercises, massage, muscle relaxation techniques, physical therapy, electrical stimulation, and in some cases, medication.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Tinnitus type | Pulsatile, cervical, somatic, somatosensory |
| Cause | Muscle tension, vascular issues, temporomandibular disorders, cervical spine instability, nerve inflammation |
| Symptoms | Buzzing, ringing, rustling, whistling, hissing, persistent sounds in the ears |
| Treatment | Muscle relaxation, physical therapy, electrical stimulation, neck exercises, medication, sound therapy |
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What You'll Learn
Muscle tension and chronic neck pain
Tight neck muscles may cause pulsatile tinnitus, a rare form of tinnitus that manifests as a rhythmic buzzing or whooshing sound in the ears resembling a pulse. However, vascular issues, such as high blood pressure, are the most common cause of pulsatile tinnitus. In such cases, it is important to consult a doctor, as untreated high blood pressure can be serious.
Somatic tinnitus and somatosensory tinnitus are forms of tinnitus that are influenced by muscle contractions and body movements. For example, forceful muscle contractions of the head, neck, and limbs, eye movements, and neck rotations can modulate the psychoacoustic attributes of tinnitus, such as its loudness and pitch. Somatosensory tinnitus is thought to arise from somatosensory stimulation, which includes muscle contractions and tense muscles.
Cervical tinnitus is specifically associated with tense muscles in the neck. It is often linked to neck injury, resulting in neck tension and damage to the nerves within the cervical spine. Movements of the cervical spine can trigger or exacerbate tinnitus symptoms in individuals with cervical tinnitus.
Chronic neck pain and muscle tension can be caused by various factors, including unexpected or excessive physical activity, stress, nervousness, and anxiety. These factors can lead to muscle contractions that result in long-term stiffness and impact an individual's ability to remain active.
To alleviate chronic neck pain and muscle tension, individuals can perform neck exercises and massage techniques that target the neck muscles and improve circulation. Some specific exercises include:
- Raising the shoulders toward the ears, holding for up to 10 seconds, and slowly relaxing them back down.
- Rolling the shoulders forward and backward in a circular motion.
- Gently rotating the head to one side, keeping the chin parallel to the floor, holding for 5-10 seconds, and repeating on the opposite side.
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Somatic and cervical tinnitus
Somatic tinnitus, also called somatosensory tinnitus, is a type of subjective tinnitus. It is caused by altered somatosensory information from the jaw area or cervical spine, which influences the psychoacoustic characteristics of tinnitus. Somatic tinnitus intensity may change in response to specific body motions such as opening or closing the jaw or moving the head or neck in certain positions. Somatic modulation is a type of physical therapy that focuses on improving tinnitus intensity through movement. Repetitive training maneuvers involving head and neck contractions may have a positive effect.
Cervical tinnitus is often related to neck injury, which results in neck tension and nerve damage within the cervical spine. Movements of the cervical spine can trigger tinnitus symptoms in people with cervical tinnitus. Cervical spine abnormalities may affect blood flow to the auditory pathways. Temporary ischemia in the brain areas responsible for processing auditory information can result from spasms or vertebral artery compression. This vascular component may worsen tinnitus symptoms.
Cervicogenic somatic tinnitus (CST) is a subgroup of somatosensory tinnitus that arises from altered sensory input from the cervical spine due to changes in anatomical and physiological functions. Conditions such as degenerative disc disease, cervical spondylosis, whiplash injuries, and neck muscle stress or spasms are commonly associated with CST. The pathophysiology of CST involves complex interactions between the cervical spine's somatosensory inputs and central auditory pathways, particularly affecting the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) in the brainstem, leading to enhanced excitability and synaptic reorganization.
The treatment of somatic and cervical tinnitus involves a multidisciplinary approach that addresses both musculoskeletal and auditory health. Treatment strategies include physical therapy, medications, interventional procedures, and complementary therapies, such as neuromodulation and regenerative medicine. Techniques directed at the cervical spine, such as muscle trigger point treatment, stabilising and mobilising exercises, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), have shown positive effects in reducing tinnitus severity.
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Muscle relaxation techniques
While vascular issues are the most common cause of pulsatile tinnitus, muscular and skeletal problems such as an uneven bite, temporomandibular (TMJ) disorder, and muscle tension are also potential causes. Tight neck muscles may cause tinnitus, and alleviating muscle tension in the neck, jaw, and shoulders may provide relief from tinnitus. Somatic tinnitus and somatosensory tinnitus intensity may change in response to specific body motions such as opening or closing the jaw or moving the head or neck in certain positions.
Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is a widely-used and simple technique for relaxation. It involves alternately tensing and relaxing 14 different muscle groups. The two steps of PMR are:
- Create tension in specific muscle groups and notice what tension feels like.
- Release the tension and notice what a relaxed muscle feels like.
- Lie or sit down. Relax your entire body.
- Take five deep, slow breaths.
- Lift your toes upward. Hold, then let go.
- Pull your toes downward. Hold, then let go.
- Tense your calf muscles. Hold, then let go.
- Move your knees toward each other. Hold, then let go.
- Squeeze your thigh muscles. Hold, then let go.
- Clench your hands. Pause, then let go.
- Tense your arms. Hold, then let go.
- Squeeze your buttocks. Pause, then let go.
- Contract your abdominal muscles. Pause, then let go.
- Inhale and tighten your chest. Hold, then exhale and let go.
- Raise your shoulders to your ears. Pause, then let go.
- Purse your lips together. Hold, then release.
- Open your mouth wide.
It is recommended to set aside 15 to 20 minutes for PMR and to do it in a quiet, comfortable area. It may be helpful to listen to a PMR recording or to be guided by a mental health professional.
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Temporomandibular joint disorder
Tinnitus is the perception of sound when there is no external source. Neck muscle tension and knots can cause tinnitus, but it is not the most common cause of the condition. The most common cause is unmanaged high blood pressure. However, muscular and skeletal problems such as an uneven bite, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD), and muscle tension are also potential causes. TMJD happens when there is inflammation or pain in the joints that make it possible for the jawbone to rotate and slide.
The lower jaw has rounded ends, known as condyles, that are covered with cartilage and glide in and out of the joint socket during activities such as talking, chewing, or yawning. These condyles are separated by a small shock-absorbing disk that keeps the movement smooth. When the condyles become inflamed or painful, the condition is called TMJD. TMJD can be caused by wear and tear on the cartilage, arthritis, injuries, dislocations, structural problems in the joint, dental problems, infections, or tumours.
TMJD symptoms include pain or tenderness in the jaw, aching pain in or around the ear, and facial pain. This pain may be present whether the temporomandibular joint is moving or not. Other symptoms include difficulty opening the mouth fully, discomfort while chewing, a clicking or popping sensation in the joint, and locking of the joint, making it challenging to open or close the mouth. TMJD can also cause an uneven bite, where one or more teeth make contact before the others.
TMJD is typically diagnosed based on the patient's symptoms and medical history, including any recent injuries or dental treatments. Treatment options range from stretching and massaging to injections of steroid or botulinum toxin (Botox®) into the joint, and in rare cases, surgical repair of the joint may be necessary. TMDs are fairly common, with about 1 in 4 people experiencing symptoms in the jaw joint at some point in their lives.
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Chiropractic care
Tinnitus is a symptom that causes ringing, buzzing, or hissing sounds in your ears. It can range from mild to severe and can be temporary or chronic. While the most common causes of tinnitus are vascular, muscular and skeletal problems such as an uneven bite, temporomandibular (TMJ) disorder, and muscle tension are also potential causes.
Cervical tinnitus is a type of tinnitus that is often linked to problems in the neck or cervical spine area. It is associated with the possible correlation between the auditory system and the musculoskeletal system of the neck. The underlying causes of cervical tinnitus are related to the muscles and nerves of the cervical tract, which contract and become inflamed. For instance, the sternocleidomastoid muscle, located close to the ear, can cause tinnitus when tense.
In addition to chiropractic care, other treatment options for cervical tinnitus include neck exercises, massage, and stretching. These techniques can help to reduce muscle tension and improve blood flow to the head and neck, which may alleviate tinnitus symptoms. It is important to consult a doctor or healthcare professional before starting any new exercise routine to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Furthermore, focal administration of lidocaine, a local anesthetic, into the neck muscles can temporarily reduce muscle tension and tinnitus. Cognitive therapy, bite splints, and home exercises have also been found to improve tinnitus in patients with temporomandibular disorders. Overall, a comprehensive treatment plan that includes chiropractic care, exercises, and other techniques may be the most effective approach to managing cervical tinnitus.
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Frequently asked questions
Neck muscle knots, or neck tension, can cause tinnitus in some cases. However, it is not the most common cause of the condition.
Tinnitus is the perception of sound, such as ringing, buzzing, or hissing, when there is no external source of these sounds.
Common causes of tinnitus include injuries, hearing loss, and exposure to loud noises. In some cases, neck muscle knots or tension can also be a factor.
There are several treatment options for tinnitus, including medications, exercises, and sound therapy. Exercises targeting neck muscles can help to reduce tension and improve circulation, which may provide relief from tinnitus symptoms.
