Did you know your Jaw and Pelvic Floor are tied together?
That's right folks, as you may have heard me say before in sessions, everything in your body is tied together, from you emotions, to your organs, and all the muscle and skeletal connections in between. One particular connection to be aware of is how your jaw and pelvis impact each other.
The jaw joint, just like the hip and shoulder joints, is a ball and socket joint. What people do not realize is the correlation between the jaw joint, the pelvis joint, proprioception (knowledge of where you are in space at any given time), and how that directly influences pelvic stability. With the pelvis being the ‘house’ that the pelvic floor is the ‘floor’ of, the connection between the jaw joint and pelvis is much closer than most realize.
How Is The Jaw Connected To The Pelvis?
The jaw joint is related to the pelvis through an intricate network of muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues that make up the myofascial system. This connection is much more complex than most realize and involves the following:
Craniosacral System:
The craniosacral system involves the entire network connecting the head (cranium) to the base of the spine (sacrum). It includes the skull, facial bones, neck, and sacral area (at the lower end of the spine). Treatment modalities such as cranio-sacral therapy sometimes provide relief from pain. When in collaboration with other clinicians it can be helpful in treating the jaw as a contributor to pelvic floor dysfunction.
Muscles and Ligaments:
The main joint of the jaw is the TMJ or temporomandibular joint. This is where the lower jaw (mandible) connects to the temporal bone of the skull. Several muscles are involved in jaw movements, such as the masseter, temporalis, and lateral pterygoid. An imbalance of these muscles results in the TMJ positioning and functionality becoming compromised. With the fascia connecting the jaw to the pelvis, this lack of functionality plays a roles in ‘tweaking’ the pelvis stability. When the ‘house’ that the pelvic floor is the ‘floor’ of is compromised, issues arise.
Neck Muscles:
The muscles of the neck, including the sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles, have attachments that connect to the jaw. Therefore, they can influence jaw posture and function. This directly influences the posture and with poor posture comes modification of breathing and instability of the pelvis.
Myofascial Connections:
Myofascial tissues include muscles and their surrounding fascia. They form a continuous network, connecting the head, neck, and upper part of the spine to the rest of the body. Tensions or imbalances in this myofascial system can impact jaw and pelvic stability.
Nervous System Connections:
There are 2 main nerves that are directly influenced by the jaw joint:
Trigeminal Nerve:
The trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V) plays a vital role in jaw function. It controls sensory and motor functions of the face, including the jaw muscles. When not functioning correctly, this indirectly impacts the muscles of the neck which influences the fascia and the posture.
Vagus Nerve:
The vagus nerve (cranial nerve X) influences various bodily functions, including those related to the pelvic floor. It communicates with the jaw area, contributing to the interconnectedness of these regions. The vagus nerve is directly involved in breathing which strongly influences the stability of the pelvis and pelvic floor.
The More You Know!
Knowing how your body parts connect in and influence each other can be a game changer! Adjusting and massaging one part can also help improve another. Additionally massage therapy from someone like Julie at Posture Massage can ensure that you are receiving holistic, full-body treatment, which in turn will help your entire body feel more relief. Bring this up in your next session with Julie and let's talk about the neat connections our bodies have!
