Tension Travels: What Your Jaw Can Tell You About Your Pelvic Floor
How 2 distant body parts are SO in sync.
At first, the jaw and pelvic floor seem like they belong to two completely different systems: one helps you talk and chew, the other supports your organs and controls things like bladder function. But surprisingly, they are deeply connected — both physically and neurologically — and often respond to stress, posture, and breathing in similar ways.
Here’s how it works.
1. The Body Is 1 Connected System
The human body isn't made of isolated parts — it’s a connected system, and one of the main things that links it all together is fascia. Fascia is a web of connective tissue that wraps around every muscle, bone, and organ. It forms long lines or “chains” that run from head to toe.
The muscles around your jaw are part of these chains — especially the deep front line, which travels from the jaw and tongue, down through the front of the spine, the diaphragm, and into the pelvic floor. This means that tightness, tension, or imbalance in the jaw can travel down the body and show up in the pelvic floor. And vice versa — if your pelvic floor isn’t functioning well, it can affect how your jaw and even your neck feel.
2. Breathing and Core Pressure
Breathing is a major factor that links these two areas. The jaw, diaphragm, and pelvic floor all play a role in regulating your breathing and managing pressure in your core.
When you breathe in, your diaphragm drops, and your pelvic floor gently lengthens to allow space for the organs to shift. When you exhale, the pelvic floor lifts slightly. This movement helps maintain healthy tone and function in your pelvic floor.
But if your jaw is tense — from clenching or grinding, for example — you’re more likely to breathe shallowly using your chest rather than your diaphragm. This disrupts the natural movement of the pelvic floor and can lead to tightness, weakness, or poor coordination.
3. The Nervous System and Emotional Stress
Both the jaw and pelvic floor are highly sensitive to stress and emotion. They’re rich in nerve endings and closely connected to the autonomic nervous system — the part of the brain that deals with stress, trauma, and survival responses.
When you’re anxious or overwhelmed, you might notice yourself clenching your jaw, grinding your teeth, or holding tension in your face. At the same time, many people unknowingly hold or “brace” their pelvic floor — like a protective reaction. This is especially common in people with a history of trauma, high stress, or chronic anxiety.
Over time, this can lead to symptoms like:
Jaw pain or clicking
Pelvic floor dysfunction (like leaking, pain, or pressure)
Postural issues and core weakness
4. Posture and Movement Patterns
Your posture plays a huge role too. Forward head posture, rounded shoulders, or a tucked pelvis can all change the alignment of your spine and put stress on both the jaw and pelvic floor. These areas respond by tensing up to help stabilize you — but chronic tension leads to dysfunction.
So What Can You Do?
Because of this strong connection, improving one area can often help the other. Here are a few simple things that may help:
Relax your jaw: Try gentle jaw stretches, tongue positioning, or massage.
Breathe with your diaphragm: Practice deep, slow belly breaths.
Release your pelvic floor: Instead of just doing “Kegels,” focus on both strengthening and releasing these muscles.
Check your posture: Small adjustments to how you sit and stand can make a big difference.
Manage stress: Meditation, therapy, and movement practices like yoga or Pilates can help calm the nervous system and reduce tension in both areas.
Sparknotes time.
The jaw and pelvic floor are more connected than most people realize — through fascia, posture, breathing, and the nervous system. When one holds tension or is out of balance, it often affects the other. Understanding this connection can help you approach your body in a more holistic way and lead to better outcomes if you’re dealing with pain, dysfunction, or stress.
It's not just about fixing a jaw or strengthening a pelvic floor — it’s about supporting the whole system they belong to.