The Jaw and the Pelvic Floor
Let's talk about the connection between the JAW & the PELVIC FLOOR...
First - this started out as a post about how chiropractic can help with jaw pain, so let me just get that out of the way and say that I provide muscle work and gentle adjustments to help relieve jaw tightness and misalignment. Now, to learn about the potential ripple effects of this work, keep reading…
Many people experience pain, tightness and dysfunction in their jaw due to clenching (typically a side effect of stress). This can lead to neck pain, upper back pain, tension headaches and even hip tightness or PELVIC PAIN...
Wait, what..?! The jaw effects the pelvis...?!
Yep! It sure does.
We have connective tissue, called fascia, that covers all of our internal muscles & organs to keep us held together. This fascia runs through our bodies in patterns, called our myofascial system, creating intimate relationships between different areas of our bodies. Two of these fascial lines, the anterior and the posterior lines, connect the jaw to the pelvis so that they greatly impact one another.
The jaw and the pelvis are also related to one another via the connective tissue that runs along the inside of our spine. This tissue covers the inside of the skull, all of the cranial bones, the inside of the spinal canal and the pelvis. Tension in one end of this system directly effects the tension in opposite end.
The jaw and pelvic floor are also connected via the Vagus nerve. This is the main parasympathetic nerve that runs throughout the body and signals “rest & digest”, allowing our bodies to relax. When our bodies are in a parasympathetic state both the jaw muscles and the pelvic floor muscles receive the message to soften. Conversely, when we are in a “fight or flight” state both the jaw and pelvic floor tighten. And this signaling works both ways. Tightening the muscles in the jaw can signal stress to the system and cause the pelvic muscles to tighten as well.
The bottom line is that tightness in the jaw is often mirrored in the pelvic floor, and visa versa.
The up side to this is that addressing one area can have a positive effect on the other. For example, in one study participants were shown to have significantly improved hip mobility after receiving hands-on work for the jaw.
Plus, many doulas and midwives will encourage birthing mothers to relax their jaw, open their mouths, hum and sign to relax their pelvic floor during labor.
As for my work as a chiropractor, I like to incorporate different tools and techniques depending on what you have going on. So if there is jaw tension we will certainly address the jaw itself, but also the cranial bones around it, the connective tissue system via craniosacral work, and any imbalances in the hips and pelvis.
TMJ issues are not fun to live with and can be difficult to treat. With chiropractic care we address your body as a whole, interconnected system to promote overall balance and healing.