06/09/2025
𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐖𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐲
After massaging hundreds of bodies over the years—and exchanging notes with trainers, osteopaths, and other movement professionals—I’ve noticed some body parts that often seem to go hand in hand (pun intended 😄).
These aren’t hard rules, but they’re common enough to be worth paying attention to. Understanding these connections helps us as massage therapists look beyond the pain point and explore what might be driving it from elsewhere in the body.
Here are some of the patterns I’ve noticed:
🔹 𝐉𝐚𝐰 & 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐤𝐮𝐥𝐥
Tension at the occiput (base of the skull) often shows up in people who grind or clench their jaw (bruxism). A thick, tight band here can create headaches, jaw discomfort, and neck tension.
🔹 𝐊𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐬 & 𝐇𝐢𝐩𝐬 (𝐄𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬)
People with knee pain can often have tension—or weakness—higher up in the chain, especially around the glutes and hips. Addressing hip stability can do wonders for knee relief.
🔹 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐭 & 𝐋𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤
Flat feet, plantar fasciitis, or ankle imbalances often show up alongside chronic tension in the lumbar spine. Support at the base affects everything above.
🔹 𝐔𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐮𝐬 & 𝐒𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐦
Here’s a lesser-known one: the uterus is actually anchored to the sacrum via ligaments. So for people with uterine trauma, menstrual issues, or reproductive surgeries, it’s common to also experience persistent sacral or lower back discomfort.
🔹 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 & 𝐍𝐞𝐜𝐤/𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬
Burning, tingling, or numbness in the wrists or hands can often be traced back to tension in the neck and shoulders—especially in people with desk jobs or repetitive motion. Tightness in the thoracic outlet can compress nerves, sending symptoms down the arm.
🔹 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 & 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞
Strange but true: tension in one shoulder is sometimes paired with tightness in the opposite glute. This could be connected by fascial chains (specifically the spiral chain), posture habits, and movement compensations.
💡 These links aren't always the cause, but they’re great clues. When we investigate pain or discomfort, we don’t just look at where it hurts—we look at how it connects.
At Summit Bodyworks, we make a point to notice these patterns and treat your body as a whole. Sometimes the answer isn’t where you think.
👐 Curious what your body might be telling you?
🔗 Book a session and let’s explore together:
