What if I told you the Jaw & Pelvic floor are connected?

Wait what? How?! How does my TMJ relate to my pelvic floor?? How on earth can they be connected?! Well friends, they may be more connected than you think. Lets take a look!

 

Lets start with the physical aspects of the connection.

  •   It starts before we are even born. As embryos early on we have what is called the gastrulation phase where our layers (endoderm, ectoderm and mesoderm) come together, line up and get ready to form our organs. So one end forms the mouth and the other forms the urethra, anus and reproductive organs.
  •   Then we can take a look at fascial lines, so our tissue that connects us and essentially holds us together. Due to this connection when we have tension in one spot we can have tension in another if we follow the line that fascia goes. Great new though!!! If tension can follow this line so can relaxation. The Jaw sits above in a straight line up from our pelvic floor… think about it


Now how about the mirror connection. Have you ever looked at an anatomical picture of the larynx or vocal cords and the uterus… take a peek!
Photo source @luisaalexandre

  •   The Vagus Nerve. Probably one of the most frequently used nerves to tap into the brain to help both the brain and body calm down due to it being a major player in the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest). This nerve runs from the back of your tongue to vocal cords and to your uterus.

 

Feeling this connection

  •   Sit down and put the tip of your thumb against the back of your front teeth suck hard on your thumb while paying attention to your pelvis floor, you will most likely feel your pelvic floor lift up at the same time
  •   Anyone ever have a baby? *Raises hand* do you know why they tell you when you’re in labour to give low open mouthed groans when having contractions? It’s because relaxing your jaw and the low tones help to naturally relax the pelvic floor.





Emotional connection

  •  As a massage therapist I hear all the time about people who hold tension in their jaw, grind or clench their teeth, have neck and shoulder pain and when we get into the glutes find that all that area is tight as well. There is a study (Van der Velde et al. 2000 & 2001) in which participants were shown a threatening video and they found increased tension held in the upper trap area and pelvic floor… neat science stuff! It is absolutely not uncommon for stress to cause jaw clenching/grinding and pelvic floor clenching.


What can we do to support this connection

  •  360 degree breathing
  •  Guided imagery or progressive relaxation (hypnotherapy)
  •  Yoga or movement practices
  •  Massage
  •  Awareness (practice makes perfect)


The more you know!

❤️ Kristin

 

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References

Van der Velde, J., & Everaerd, W. (2001). The relationship between involuntary pelvic floor muscle activity, muscle awareness and experienced threat in women with and without vaginismus. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 39(4), 395–408. Doi:10.1016/s0005-7967(00)00007-3

Van der Velde, J., Laan, E., & Everaerd, W. (2000). Vaginismus, a component of a general defensive reaction. An investigation of pelvic floor muscle activity during exposure to emotion inducing film excerpts in women with and without vaginismus. Submitted

Fischer MJ, Riedlinger K, Gutenbrunner C, Bernateck M. Influence of the temporomandibular joint on range of motion of the hip joint in patients with complex regional pain syndrome. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2009 Jun;32(5):364-71. Doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2009.04.003. PMID: 19539119

 

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