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The sternocleidomastoid runs along the side of the neck, from behind the ear down toward the sternum and clavicle.
Where Is the Sternocleidomastoid?
The SCM runs from the area behind your ear down along the side of your neck to the sternum and clavicle.
Turn your head slowly to one side and you'll often see and feel this muscle become more prominent.
That's your sternocleidomastoid.
This muscle helps rotate and tilt your head and plays an important role in stabilizing the head and neck.
How Can the SCM Affect Jaw Tension?
The SCM runs from the area behind your ear down along the side of your neck to the sternum and clavicle.
Turn your head slowly to one side and you'll often see and feel this muscle become more prominent.
That's your sternocleidomastoid.
This muscle helps rotate and tilt your head and plays an important role in stabilizing the head and neck.
The Jaw Doesn't Work Alone
Your jaw is part of a larger system of muscles involving the head, neck and shoulders.
When you're experiencing jaw tension, other muscles worth considering include:
Suboccipital Muscles
Small muscles located underneath the base of the skull that help control head position and can contribute to pain around the back of the head.
Upper Trapezius
A major neck and shoulder muscle that can contribute to head, neck and shoulder tension.
Levator Scapulae
A muscle connecting the upper shoulder blade to the cervical spine that can contribute to neck tension and restricted movement.
Temporalis
A major muscle involved in chewing that covers the side of the skull and can contribute to pain around the temple and head.
Masseter
One of the primary muscles of chewing and one of the muscles most commonly associated with jaw tension.
The SCM is just one piece of the pattern.
Why the SCM Often Goes Unchecked
When someone says:
"My jaw hurts."
The natural reaction is to focus on the jaw.
You might immediately think about the masseter or the TMJ.
Those structures can certainly be involved.
But the muscles of the neck and head can also contribute to referred pain and tension around the jaw and face.
The location of your pain doesn't always tell you which muscle is contributing to it.
That's why looking at the surrounding muscles can be so important.
Try This Simple Check
Turn your head slowly to one side.
Look for the prominent band of muscle running from behind your ear toward your collarbone.
Compare one side with the other.
You can do a simple hands-on check of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) on both sides of your neck.
Next, feel along the SCM itself. This muscle has a rope-like shape and is generally easy to locate, especially toward the lower portion of the muscle. It is thicker toward the upper portion near the skull and becomes more accessible as you move down toward the collarbone.
You can gently grasp the muscle between your fingers and thumb, almost like you are holding a muscular rope.
Lightly squeeze and explore the muscle, feeling for areas that seem tighter, more sensitive, or contain small knots or bands of tension.
Work your way from the bottom up, then from the top down, several times. You don't need to press hard. The act of pressing, squeezing, and exploring the muscle is itself a form of massage.
As you do this, pay attention to how each side feels. Is one side tighter? More sensitive? Does one area feel different from the other?
The goal isn't to force the muscle to release. It's simply to become more aware of what you're feeling and how the two sides compare.
If turning your head is painful or restricted, learn more about the muscles involved in neck rotation here.
This doesn't prove that your SCM is causing your jaw symptoms.
But it gives you another important muscle to investigate rather than automatically assuming the jaw is the only source.
How to Work With the Sternocleidomastoid
Now that you know where the sternocleidomastoid is and how it can contribute to head, neck and jaw tension, the next step is learning how to work with it safely.
In this video, I'll show you how to locate the SCM and use gentle self-massage techniques to help release tension in this important neck muscle.
A Gentle Approach Is Best
Start with slow, controlled pressure and stay within a comfortable range.
The goal isn't to force the muscle to release.
It's to learn where the muscle is, recognize how it feels, and understand how working with it may affect the tension you're experiencing.
We do not massage in front of the SCM at the front of the throat. We massage on the SCM and behind it.
Remember, the SCM is only one part of the larger pattern.
If you're experiencing jaw tension, also consider the suboccipitals, trapezius, levator scapulae, temporalis and masseter.
Look Beyond the Jaw
Jaw tension can involve much more than the jaw itself.
If you're experiencing jaw tension along with neck tension, headaches, ear discomfort, or pain around the back of the skull, it may be helpful to consider the surrounding muscles as well.
The muscles of the head, neck and shoulders work together, and understanding their locations and relationships can help you better understand the patterns you're experiencing.
Learn the muscles. Understand the pattern. Stop guessing.
Continue Learning
Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) Muscle and Jaw Pain: The Connection You May Be Missing
Jaw tension isn't always coming from the jaw.
The sternocleidomastoid (SCM) is a major neck muscle that is often overlooked when someone is experiencing jaw pain, facial tension, headaches, or discomfort around the ear.
When this muscle becomes tense or develops sensitive trigger points, it can contribute to referred pain—pain that is felt somewhere other than the muscle itself.
