Dominic Stone
Tinnitus is a condition characterised by hearing a sound, such as a continuous buzzing or ringing, when there is no external sound. Pulsatile tinnitus is a specific type of tinnitus that causes people to hear whooshing or buzzing sounds, usually in rhythm with their pulse. Tight neck muscles may cause pulsatile tinnitus in some cases. However, the most common causes are vascular, relating to problems with blood vessels. Tight neck muscles can cause chronic neck pain, which can, in turn, lead to tinnitus.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can tight neck muscles cause tinnitus? | Yes, tight neck muscles can cause pulsatile tinnitus in some cases. |
| Types of tinnitus | Pulsatile tinnitus, nonpulsatile tinnitus, somatic tinnitus, and cervical tinnitus |
| Pulsatile tinnitus | A specific type of tinnitus that causes people to hear whooshing or buzzing sounds, usually in rhythm with their pulse |
| Causes of pulsatile tinnitus | Vascular issues, such as high blood pressure, unmanaged high blood pressure, and muscle tension |
| Treatment for pulsatile tinnitus | Muscle relaxation, physical therapy, electrical stimulation, sound therapy, hearing aids, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and lifestyle changes |
| Causes of tinnitus | Traumatic injuries such as whiplash, damage to the blood vessels and nerves that supply the ears, and increased activity in the auditory cortex |
| Treatment for tinnitus | Physiotherapy, trigger point massages, rehabilitative gymnastics, sound enrichment, jaw exercises, manual therapy, and drug therapies |
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What You'll Learn
Tight neck muscles can cause pulsatile tinnitus
Tinnitus refers to hearing a sound, such as a continuous buzzing or ringing, when there is no external sound. Pulsatile tinnitus is a specific type of tinnitus that causes people to hear whooshing or buzzing sounds, usually in rhythm with their pulse. Tight neck muscles may cause pulsatile tinnitus in some cases, although it is not among the most common causes of the condition. The most common cause is unmanaged high blood pressure.
The many muscles, nerves, and tissues in your neck, shoulders, and head are interconnected. Impacting one may lead to issues with another, and occasionally, you may notice tinnitus. One of the most common ways neck tension causes a ringing in the ears is due to a disruption in your Eustachian tube function. The Eustachian tube is the opening that connects your middle ear to your nasal sinus cavity. It helps drain fluids from and equalize pressure in the middle ear, so when these are disrupted, by tight neck muscles disrupting the ability for these tubes to open and close as they normally would with body functions such as swallowing and yawning, your ears might feel stuffed and you might experience ringing in the ears.
Tight neck muscles can also cause pulsatile tinnitus by exerting pressure on the blood vessels and nerves that supply the ears. This can be caused by traumatic injuries such as whiplash or other injuries sustained in auto accidents. Poor posture can also contribute to both neck pain and tinnitus. For instance, people who often spend a lot of time hunched over their phones or computers are likely to sprain the muscles in the neck and shoulders. This may cause pain and stiffness.
If the cause of pulsatile tinnitus is neck tension, muscle relaxation techniques may help ease the symptoms. A 2017 review on somatosensory tinnitus notes several studies that found benefits in using muscle relaxation techniques. However, the research to date has been inconsistent and primarily focused on small groups of participants. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) involves using a device to deliver small electrical pulses through electrodes that sit on the skin. In tinnitus treatment, the electrodes sit around or behind the ears and neck. The tiny electrical pulses may influence the nerves connected to the auditory system, allowing the brain to respond differently. This may lead to the suppression of symptoms. Other treatments include rehabilitative gymnastics, gentle stretching, and massage on the back and neck, which can help reduce stress and the buildup of tension by relaxing your muscles and reducing pressure on your nerves in the cervical spine, easing somatic tinnitus.
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Chronic neck pain and tinnitus are linked
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is another factor that can contribute to both neck pain and tinnitus. This joint connects the jaw bone to the skull, allowing head movement. TMJ disorder can cause pain and stiffness in the jaw, shoulders, and neck, and it can also lead to tinnitus by increasing muscle tension and reducing blood flow to the ears. Poor posture, such as spending a lot of time hunched over phones or computers, can also contribute to neck pain and tinnitus by straining the muscles in the neck and shoulders.
Traumatic injuries, such as whiplash, can damage the blood vessels and nerves supplying the ears, leading to tinnitus and other auditory symptoms. Additionally, cervical spine instability can cause tinnitus by compressing the vagus nerve and the trigeminal nerve, resulting in Eustachian tube dysfunction.
Treating tinnitus associated with neck pain typically involves addressing the underlying muscle and nerve issues. This may include physical therapy, neck exercises, gentle stretching, massage, and trigger point therapy to reduce muscle tension and improve blood circulation. Sound therapy, hearing aids, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and lifestyle changes may also be recommended. Biofeedback, a technique teaching control over autonomic body functions, can help manage stress and anxiety, reducing tinnitus symptoms.
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TMJ disorder and tinnitus
Tinnitus is defined as the perception of sound that doesn’t have an external source. It is largely associated with age- or noise-related hearing loss. However, mounting evidence has found that, in a smaller number of cases, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders may be a root cause of tinnitus instead of hearing loss. TMJ disorders are caused by inflammation or irritation of the ligaments and muscles surrounding the joints.
There is increasing evidence of associations between the presence of TMJ disorders and tinnitus. A 2018 systematic review and meta-analysis of multiple studies found that the prevalence of tinnitus was higher in people with TMJ disorders than in people without them. This may be due to the proximity of the inner ear to the TMJ. The cochlea, a part of the inner ear that transforms sound waves into electrical impulses, is located next to the temporomandibular joint. Irritation and inflammation in the joint may damage the cochlea and other parts of the inner ear, causing subjective tinnitus.
Tinnitus related to TMJ disorders is sometimes referred to as a type of somatic tinnitus, which is caused by a musculoskeletal problem. A 2019 study noted that people with tinnitus and TMJ disorders might make up a specific tinnitus subtype, as they are responsive to specific treatments. A 2012 study also noted that people with tinnitus and TMJ disorders were able to reduce tinnitus symptoms through movements of the head and jaw. Research data from as far back as 1997 found that treating TMJ disorders helps alleviate tinnitus in people with both conditions. However, recent studies suggest more research is needed to confirm this connection.
There are several types of treatments for TMJ disorders that may help alleviate both tinnitus and jaw pain. These include medications such as muscle relaxants and antidepressants, oral appliances such as mouthguards or teeth protectors, and physical therapy.
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Cervical tinnitus and neck pain
Tinnitus refers to hearing a sound, such as a continuous buzzing or ringing, when there is no external sound. Pulsatile tinnitus is a specific type of tinnitus that causes people to hear whooshing or buzzing sounds, usually in rhythm with their pulse. While nonpulsatile tinnitus is fairly common, pulsatile tinnitus, which is intermittent, is rare.
Tight neck muscles may cause pulsatile tinnitus in some cases, 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 (TMJ) disorder, and muscle tension are also potential causes. The temporomandibular joint connects the jaw bone to the skull, and it can easily become inflamed if you are habitually clenching or grinding your teeth. TMJ disorder can cause tinnitus by increasing muscle tension and reducing blood flow to the ears.
Ongoing muscular tension in your neck can lead to chronic neck pain, which can, in turn, lead to tinnitus. The many muscles, nerves, and tissues in your neck, shoulders, and head are interconnected. Impacting one may lead to issues with another, and occasionally, you may notice tinnitus. One of the most common ways neck tension causes a ringing in the ears is due to a disruption in your Eustachian tube function. The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the nasal sinus cavity and helps drain fluids and equalize pressure in the middle ear. When these tubes are disrupted, your ears might feel stuffed, and you might experience ringing in the ears.
There are several treatment options for cervical tinnitus. One option is a hearing aid for tinnitus, which produces a sound that masks the sound of tinnitus. Another option is massages targeting localized pain, which are especially helpful with muscle spasms and neck exercises for tinnitus. Physiotherapy and trigger point massages on the neck can help reduce stress and accumulated tension by relieving muscle tension and reducing pressure on cervical spine nerves. Sound enrichment is another neurophysiological technique that teaches the brain to ignore tinnitus, classifying it as harmless noise.
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Muscle relaxation techniques to treat tinnitus
Tight neck muscles may cause pulsatile tinnitus in some cases. However, it is not the most common cause of the condition. The most common cause of pulsatile tinnitus is unmanaged high blood pressure.
Tinnitus refers to a constant buzzing or ringing in the ears. Pulsatile tinnitus is a relatively rare condition that results in a rhythmic buzzing or whooshing sound in the ears that resembles a pulse.
There are several muscle relaxation techniques that can help treat tinnitus. Here are some exercises to relax and strengthen the neck and jaw muscles:
- While sitting with your back straight, gently tuck your chin towards your chest. Gaze straight ahead, feeling the stretch in the back of your neck. Hold this position for up to 10 seconds and repeat up to 10 times.
- Using a massaging ball, roll it at the level of your jaw muscles and over your cheek with some pressure, using spiral movements. Focus on areas of obvious tension.
- With your mouth gently closed, move your jaw to one side and place your hand on its underside, pushing gently. Hold for 3 seconds and then relax.
- Using your fingertips, massage your scalp using gentle circular motions. Start at the front and work your way to the back, focusing on any areas that feel tense.
- Press your fingers along the top of your head, starting at your hairline and moving towards the back of your head. Repeat this motion several times.
- Progressive muscle relaxation: While sitting down, focus on the muscles in one area of your body and inhale, tightening those muscles for 8 seconds. Release them by letting go and slowly exhaling. Continue this progression systematically from your head down to your feet.
In addition to these exercises, music therapy, sound therapy, hearing aids, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and lifestyle changes can also help manage tinnitus.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, tight neck muscles may cause pulsatile tinnitus in some cases. Pulsatile tinnitus is a specific type of tinnitus that causes people to hear whooshing or buzzing sounds, usually in rhythm with their pulse. However, it is not the most common cause of the condition.
There are several treatments for tinnitus caused by tight neck muscles, including muscle relaxation, physical therapy, electrical stimulation, and sound therapy. Massages and physiotherapy can help reduce stress and accumulated tension by relieving muscle tension and reducing pressure on the cervical spine nerves.
The symptoms of tinnitus caused by tight neck muscles can include a ringing or buzzing sound in the ears, dizziness, and neck pain. In some cases, people may also experience frequent tension headaches and pain that radiates down the arms or shoulders.
