The Mysterious Connection Between Your Jaw and Pelvis

I originally wrote about the jaw-pelvis connection several years ago based on what I was witnessing daily in my practice with pelvic dysfunction patients. At the time, this concept wasn't widely discussed, but I felt compelled to share what I was seeing clinically. Since then, this topic has gained significant attention in the rehabilitation world, and exciting new research has emerged that further validates these connections. I've updated this post to include the latest findings while keeping the core observations that started it all.

Countless times while working with my pelvic patients, I have witnessed while releasing their fascial restrictions vaginally, that the patient's jaw was moving ever so slightly from side to side, presumably shifting to find its new home and mirror its counterpart. Of course, I point out what I see so that my client has a better awareness of how the pelvis and jaw are intimately related. To me, this isn't strange to see as I am keenly aware of the mechanical connection between the two. Most people though, are a bit surprised by the fact that these opposite-ended body parts have any relation at all. Despite being on opposite ends of the body, several studies done by dentists and physiotherapists show evidence that improvement in mobility of the jaw can somehow unleash tension in the pelvis and vice versa.

How could these two very different ends of the body be connected? What might be the reason one body part is mirroring another so closely? It might seem illogical or bizarre, but there are actually several reasons that might explain this fascinating connection:

1. Embryological Development The connection begins during embryologic development at around day fifteen. In this stage, called gastrulation, two depressions form on the dorsal side of the embryo which become the oropharyngeal membrane (goes on to form the mouth) and the cloacal membrane (goes on to form the openings of the urinary, reproductive and digestive tracts). The spine grows between them and the two remain connected from their early beginnings as one being in the embryo.

2. The Glottis-Pelvic Floor Partnership: A Three-Diaphragm System Recent research has illuminated a fascinating neurological connection between the glottis (the opening between your vocal cords) and the pelvic floor, orchestrated through our vagus nerve. Our body operates as an integrated pressure system involving three key diaphragms: the respiratory diaphragm, the vocal diaphragm (glottis), and the pelvic diaphragm (pelvic floor).

Here's where it gets really interesting: there's a direct correlation between vocal pitch and pelvic floor activity. When your voice drops in pitch - your vocal cords relax and open - your pelvic floor naturally lowers and lengthens. Think about the deep, low "ahhhh" sound you make when settling into a comfortable chair. Conversely, higher-pitched sounds, which tighten the vocal folds, tend to increase pelvic floor lift and engagement - like when you squeal with surprise.

This three-diaphragm system works together to manage pressure throughout your core. When one part is stuck or dysfunctional, it creates compensatory patterns throughout the entire system. This coordinated relationship helps explain why breathing exercises, vocal work, humming, and jaw release can have such profound effects on pelvic floor function. It's another piece of the puzzle showing how the upper and lower openings of our body work as one integrated system.

3. Emotions - Our Avenues of Expression Both the jaw and pelvis are known to be our avenues of expression – on physical and verbal levels. Think about what happens to your jaw when you are holding back from expressing yourself. Suppressed anger, fear, and negative emotions can cause you to clench and grind your teeth, or build stress in the jaw. Similarly, think about what happens to your body when you are in a stressful situation - can you feel your abdomen and pelvic floor muscles tense up, or your buttocks clench? Years of sexual repression and unspoken feelings can be held in the body as tightness and pain.

4. Fascial Connections Fascia is the connective tissue that supports and connects every cell, muscle fiber, nerve, blood vessel, and organ. It provides support and mobility for our entire body. A fascial line can be traced from the jaw down into the pelvis, creating a highway of tension and release that travels the length of your torso.

5. The Craniosacral Connection Another notable connection between the jaw and pelvis involves the biomechanics of the cranial bones and the dural tube, which is a dense sheath of connective tissue that houses the brain, spinal cord, and cerebrospinal fluid. Tensions and imbalances in the jaw can affect the membranes connecting the dura to the skull and influence where it's tethered below at the sacrum. Uneven pressures and pulling in the sacral area can, in turn, affect the cranial attachments and lead to pain, dysfunction, and other symptoms on either end of the craniosacral system. This uneven distribution can cause a multitude of symptoms across all body systems – from your cardiovascular to your neurologic, musculoskeletal, digestive, and beyond.

Do You Feel It?

Are you someone who suffers from TMD (Temporomandibular joint disorder), jaw tension, clenching, grinding, pain, jaw locking or clicking? Do you also happen to have pelvic, lower back, SI joint, or sacral pain and dysfunction? Perhaps you may not have notable pain or tension in the pelvis, but you may experience bladder/bowel problems or sexual dysfunction.

If you have one or the other but not both, you may want to pay closer attention to your body mechanics. Is your left hip restricted with mobility? And if so, is your left jaw a little tighter? If you answer yes to any of these situations, you may want to focus on relaxing your jaw and your pelvis. If your symptoms are on the mild side, you may be able to help yourself with a few simple stretches and self-care techniques.

Simple Exercises to Release Jaw-Pelvis Tension:

1. Relax the Pelvic Floor with Deep Squatting Come into a low squat as if you are going to poop in a hole in the ground. This pose is a known yoga pose called Malasana. If your ankles are too tight, you may need to roll a yoga mat to rest your heels on and place your feet on a downward incline. *Note, you want to keep your weight forward on the balls of your feet with a long spine, avoid slumping or tucking your tail under you. Some people don't have the flexibility to sustain this posture, if that's the case, you may want to turn it upside down in a modified happy baby style pose lying on your back. When in malasana: keep hands in prayer position and try to stay in the pose for 2-3 minutes focusing on relaxing the perineum and breathing deeply.

2. Cat-Cow with Tongue Release (see above)

Doing the familiar Cat-Cow exercise on hands and knees, breathe in to arch the back, raising the tailbone up and spreading the sit bones wide. The action of the sit bones widening will lengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Do this while sliding the shoulder blades together, looking up and sticking the tongue way out. Then gently contract the abdominal area to round the spine so the tail is tucked under while exhaling. Try 5-10 slow repetitions to start, repeat 2-3 times per day.

3. Deep Breathing with Proper Tongue Position

Lying on your back with your arms at your sides, gently place your tongue behind your front teeth to relax the jaw and take four big, full breaths. Think of something that makes you happy or grateful while you breathe. You could also gently massage your jaw area afterwards.

4. Fascial Release for Your Feet

Standing upright, using a tennis ball or a pinky ball (which is a bit more firm), place almost all your body weight on the ball resting under the bottom of your forefoot. Keep firm pressure there while the other foot remains flat on the floor to support you. Hold the wall for balance. Maintain pressure until the tension in the foot decreases and the foot melts more over the ball, then move the foot forward so the ball moves toward the arch. Repeat the sequence for 1-2 more spots until the ball ends up on the heel.

Walk around and feel the difference between sides. Pay attention not only to your feet, but also to the hips and pelvis. Then repeat on the other foot.

When to Seek Professional Help

If these exercises have helped but not enough, it might be time to seek treatment. At Align PT, we are skilled in a holistic integrated approach and offer a variety of manual techniques and practices to help you address whole-body health, which includes both your jaw, pelvis, and everything in between. Thorough evaluation helps us determine which body regions are the culprits and which are reactors. Treating the reactors and not the culprits will only exacerbate your pain patterns.

With a deeper understanding of what is contributing to your pain patterns, we can release the restrictions in the proper areas and teach you new movement strategies to help make lasting changes.

If you're in the Denver-Boulder area, call us 720-204-6546 and get scheduled for evaluation and treatment. If you're located elsewhere and are in need of manual physical therapy, we do offer an Out of Town Intensive Program, spots for intensives are limited.

Alternatively, you can look for practitioners who have good working knowledge of the pelvic floor, as well as craniosacral, visceral, and myofascial training. When you find a practitioner, be sure to ask about their training and knowledge regarding this connection.

Here are some excellent resources if you're not in our area and looking for help:

• Visceral and Craniosacral Specialists: IAHP  Look for people skilled in Visceral manipulation (VM and NM track) and CS craniosacral, preferably a pelvic therapist with this training.

• Integrated Systems Model Practitioners

• Pelvic Health Specialists: Pelvic Rehab Providers, Pelvic PT Rising Map

The jaw-pelvis connection is real, powerful, and more common than most people realize. Understanding this relationship can be the key to unlocking chronic pain patterns that have puzzled you for years.