Sinus & Facial Pain
Where sinus symptoms persist between infections, manual drainage techniques, breathing retraining and neck treatment can make a real difference.
What is sinus & facial pain?
Sinus and facial pain describes pressure, tenderness or aching around the cheeks, forehead, nose and eyes. It may follow infections, accompany allergies, or persist long after any infection has cleared.
When symptoms continue between infections, the mechanical side of the picture is usually significant: restricted drainage, tight facial and jaw muscles, a stiff upper neck and a shallow, mouth-based breathing pattern all contribute to that familiar heavy, blocked sensation.
This is one of the least-known areas of physiotherapy and one of the most rewarding to treat, because relief often arrives quickly once the muscular and mechanical contributors are addressed.
Common symptoms
- Pressure or heaviness over the cheeks, forehead or eyes
- Facial pain that worsens on bending forward
- Blocked nose or one-sided congestion
- Post-nasal drip and frequent throat clearing
- Facial tenderness to light touch
- Headaches described as sinus headaches
- Mouth breathing, snoring or disturbed sleep
- Reduced sense of smell or ear fullness
What causes it
- Recurrent or lingering sinus infections
- Allergic rhinitis and environmental triggers
- Restricted sinus drainage and facial muscle tension
- Upper cervical spine dysfunction referring into the face
- Jaw clenching and TMJ dysfunction
- Habitual mouth breathing and altered breathing pattern
- Previous sinus or nasal surgery
How physiotherapy helps
Assessment covers facial and sinus palpation, nasal airflow, jaw and upper neck mobility and your resting breathing pattern — alongside screening for anything that needs medical or ENT review first.
Treatment uses manual drainage and facial release, gentle facial and jaw mobilisation, upper cervical treatment and nasal breathing retraining. Physiotherapy complements medical management rather than replacing it, and I refer promptly when medication or specialist input is needed.
- Manual sinus drainage and facial soft tissue release
- Gentle facial and jaw mobilisation
- Upper cervical spine treatment
- Nasal breathing retraining
- Self-drainage and saline routines to use at home
- Advice for seasonal and allergy flare-ups
When to seek treatment
- Facial pressure or congestion that persists between infections
- Recurring 'sinus headaches' that medication doesn't settle
- Facial pain alongside jaw or neck symptoms
- Persistent mouth breathing or disturbed sleep
- Fever, severe pain or coloured discharge — see a doctor first
Frequently asked questions
Let's get you moving again
If this sounds like what you're dealing with, an assessment is the quickest way to understand it properly. Sinus & Facial Pain responds well to the right plan.