Is the tension in your jaw causing tension in your hips (pelvis)?

To understand the connection between the jaw and the hips, first we must look at fascia. Fascia is connective tissue that plays a supportive role in connecting organs, muscle fibres, nerves and blood vessels. Fascia is the biological material that holds us together, which means that tightness within fascia can pull our body out of alignment. Lines of fascia or “trains” run throughout the body, this includes a direct path from the pelvis to the jaw, connecting these areas. Similarly this can be seen in Traditional Chinese Medicine as the jaw and the pelvis are connected through the Gallbladder channel.. pretty cool for a medicine that dates back over 2000 years.The pelvis and jaw, have a tendency to contract in times of stress, shock and trauma. An example of this is in yoga practice, teachers often use hip opening techniques to release stress and remind you to relax your jaw, these are key areas of tension caused by stress. Long term contraction of these muscles can cause pain and disfunction. A study in Germany in 2009 showed that myofascial release of the TMJ (the joint in your jaw) significantly increased the range of motion in the hips, while voluntary clenching or tightening of the jaw decreased the range of motion in the hips for all subjects involved in the study. This is one of many examples of how the body is connected, in my practice I aim to address pain and disfunction at its core. I often hear from clients that they are overwhelmed with having multiple complaints or issues to address, or that they are “broken” when its usually a root issue causing a variety of symptoms…treat the root cause to treat the symptoms. Acupuncture along with some simple changes to lifestyle can reduce pain and improve quality of life for most clients.