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By Megan Cornish, Myotherapist Patients are often surprised to hear about this not commonly talked about connection between your jaw and pelvic floor muscles however there is certainly a link between the two. This traces back to week 3 of our development in the womb. Embryos form two indentations positioned next to each other, these openings are for the mouth and urethral, anal and reproductive organs. As gestation progresses the distance between the two becomes larger however they stay connected via connective tissue.  Dura mater and the Dural Tube Connection: Dura mater (or dural tube) is a connective tissue made up of fascia a blend of elastic fibres and collagen that surrounds every structure in the body be it muscle, neurovascular structures (nerves and blood vessels) or bone. It originates from an opening at the base of the skull and attaches to the first 3 cervical vertebrae before extending downwards to the bottom of the spine where it ends at the sacrum. The Dura Mater is the deepest layer of fascia and THIS is our connection between the jaw and pelvic floor muscles. Now that we know there is a connection between these two regions, how does that impact their treatment? It's important to recognise that if the pelvic floor is tight or impacted in some way the jaw will very commonly be impacted as well and vice versa. So to effectively treat one, the other should be considered as well. This will ensure that you get the best treatment outcome that you can whether the goal is to release those unrelenting, stubborn tight jaw muscles or to support healthy pelvic floor function OR both. Treatment approach: Now that we know what we are dealing with is a fascial connection between the two the best technique that your therapist can use would be, you guessed it, fascial release! Fascial release is quite different to your usual massage techniques in that it requires more grip and depth of pressure varies depending on what you are trying to influence whether it be the superficial layers or deeper layers like the dura mater. This technique generally feels really good and most of all stretchy and doesn’t require super deep massage in order to be able to have the desired effect on the deeper layers. If you've been experiencing jaw tightness or pain that won't let up, or struggling with pelvic floor dysfunction or women's health conditions, it may be worth exploring the fascial connection between the two to enhance your treatment outcomes! Book in with one of our expert practitioners today! By Megan Cornish, Myotherapist When tackling PCOS it is important to remember that the best treatment is going to be a combination of treatments. Lifestyle changes such as nutritional support, stress management and exercise are all important to help regulate hormonal imbalance and reduce PCOS symptoms. Unfortunately these changes don't have an effect overnight and consistency is key so while you are recovering flare ups and symptom management is going to be super important as this will keep pain under control and allow you to stay motivated and consistent in your recovery. That is where myotherapy comes in!  A Myotherapist's job - in a nutshell - is to keep you moving and/or progressing through treatment by managing pain and inflammation. The same applies for the treatment of PCOS. Myotherapy is able to effectively manage muscle and joint pain associated with all types of PCOS by using manual therapy to encourage blood flow and nutrients to the tissue, release endorphins (your feel good hormones), reduce inflammation and relax muscle tissue. We are also able to support hormone regulation by using massage to calm the central nervous system, reduce stress hormones (such as those associated with adrenal PCOS), increase insulin absorption and decrease blood glucose levels. In addition to the above, your Myotherapist will be able to help you identify aggravating factors and work with you to create a treatment plan that incorporates all aspects of your life to support your PCOS recovery all the while managing your symptoms and reducing your pain, sounds pretty good hey! Megan is our treating myotherapist who specialises in all things women's health! She is dedicated to creating a safe space where she can support you through your recovery. Book your first consultation with her today!
By Megan Cornish, Myotherapist Now that we know the different types of PCOS let's talk about how this relates to your musculoskeletal system and the effect PCOS can have on your muscle, joints and bones. In this blog we will explore the biomechanical implications that can occur as a result of hormonal imbalances associated with this condition.  Individuals with insulin resistance PCOS can experience musculoskeletal symptoms such as muscle and joint pain, low levels of energy, muscle weakness and fatigue due to the decreased absorption rate of glucose into your body's cells and tissues. Glucose and insulin are vital for a healthy musculoskeletal system and when their supply to tissues and cells are disrupted muscle strength and stamina as well as bone mass and density are affected. Those with this type of PCOS may also experience neuropathy (pins and needles) particularly in the hands and arms. Adrenal PCOS is associated with increased stress hormone release from the adrenal glands. When the body is experiencing chronic stress, all systems are affected including your musculoskeletal system. The release of hormones involved in Adrenal PCOS can cause muscle tightness, cramping, spasms, sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass) bone fragility and overall increased sensitization. Muscle bone and joint health can also be influenced by chronic inflammation and this is typically seen in those with Inflammatory PCOS. With this condition muscle mass and strength are significantly affected as well as symptoms of muscle and joint pain in response to elevated inflammatory markers. As you can see all of the above types of PCOS can have an affect on your musculoskeletal health due to the underlying chemical processes occurring in the body as a result of this condition. When you receive treatment for muscle or joint pain it is important for your treating practitioner to understand the effect your PCOS type is having on the tissues and bones in your musculoskeletal system in order to treat you effectively. Megan is our treating myotherapist who specialises in all things women's health! She is dedicated to creating a safe space where she can support you through your recovery. Book your first consultation with her today!
By Megan Cornish, Myotherapist Hormones are the chemical messengers involved in various bodily functions and responsible for maintaining balance in your body’s internal environment. So what happens when hormones become imbalanced? Well PCOS is just one hormonal condition that can occur as a result of hormonal imbalances within our bodies. So how do we address this and how can Myotherapy help? While hormones are not within our control, environmental and external factors are and it’s these things that we can use to our advantage when treating hormonal conditions like PCOS.  Understanding your Condition and PCOS Type Did you know that there are 4 different types of PCOS? Unfortunately your PCOS type is something that may not have been disclosed to you when you received your PCOS diagnosis and is the case with many women I treat, however understanding your PCOS type can be vital in determining the best treatment approach to combat your condition. So let me list them.
Insulin-Resistant PCOS Insulin-Resistant PCOS is the most common type of PCOS and this occurs when there is a higher level of insulin in the body. The hormone insulin is released in response to increased glucose (sugar) in the blood. Think of insulin like an uber for glucose (sugar) in the blood, insulin aids transportation of glucose to their destination which is muscle, liver and fat cells. Once transported glucose will be stored in these cells for energy later. When you are experiencing insulin resistance you are still producing insulin however the “insulin uber” is not transporting glucose effectively and now we have too many glucose hormones waiting for their uber to show up, as a result glucose is now accumulating in the blood. Adrenal PCOS Adrenal PCOS occurs as a result of hormones produced in a response to stress. In this type of PCOS a hormone called DHEA-S (Dehydroepiandrosterone - Sulfate) is secreted at a higher rate by the adrenal glands and this elevation of DHEA-S contributes to the hormonal imbalance seen in adrenal PCOS. Managing stress in this type of PCOS should be the priority in order to rebalance hormones and treat the condition effectively. Inflammatory PCOS Inflammation is a chemical response to injury or infection, it is our body’s way of healing itself. Usually inflammation is short term and clears up when the injury or infection is resolved. However, in this PCOS type inflammation has been chronic and ongoing over a long time which results in the ovaries producing too much testosterone. If this is your PCOS type it may be worth investigating the underlying cause of chronic inflammation so that it can be resolved or managed effectively. Post Pill PCOS Post Pill PCOS is the onset of PCOS after ceasing the contraceptive pill. This does not occur in everyone after stopping this medication however is something that can occur and is another type of PCOS. This happens as a result of a natural surge of hormones, however, you’ll be happy to hear that this type of PCOS is temporary as your hormones will start to regulate themselves with time. The good news is all of the above types of PCOS can be treated resulting in significant reduction of symptoms and better overall quality of life. The key is understanding your type of PCOS and making the correct lifestyle changes in order to combat PCOS once and for all! Megan is our treating myotherapist who specialises in all things women's health! She is dedicated to creating a safe space where she can support you through your recovery. Book your first consultation with her today!
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