How Tension Enters the System: Four Common Holding Patterns

When we look more closely at where tension consistently begins, four areas of the body show up again and again in both assessment and treatment.

These areas act like control points in the body. W

hen they hold tension, the effects travel far beyond the local tissue.

1. The Feet — Narrowing the Base of Support

The feet are our foundation.

When tension develops here, everything above has to adapt.

Common contributors include:

• restrictive footwear

• prolonged standing or sitting

• lack of barefoot movement

• chronic stress (yes, the feet respond to stress)

Tension in the plantar fascia reduces the foot’s ability to adapt to load. This creates a narrowing of the base upon which we stand, forcing compensations further up the body.

Anatomically, the plantar fascia has a functional relationship with the psoas and the deep fascial lines that run through the legs, pelvis, and spine.

When the feet lose elasticity:

• the calves and hamstrings tighten

• pelvic alignment is affected

• load transfers into the lower back

Additionally, tension in the feet can restrict lymphatic flow, contributing to heaviness, fatigue, and slower tissue recovery.

When the foundation is compromised, the entire kinetic chain must compensate.

2. The Buttocks — Stress, Pelvic Tilt, and Lower Back Pain

One of the most overlooked stress responses in the body is unconscious gluteal clenching.

Many people hold tension in the buttocks without realising it — particularly during stress, concentration, or emotional load.

Chronic clenching affects:

• pelvic tilt

• sacroiliac joint mechanics

• hip mobility

Over time, this can contribute to:

• lower back pain

• sciatica-like symptoms

• hip discomfort

• altered gait patterns

When the pelvis loses its neutral positioning, the spine above and the legs below are forced to compensate. The problem often presents as back pain, but the driver is habitual holding, not weakness alone.

Until that holding pattern is addressed, strengthening exercises alone may aggravate symptoms rather than resolve them.

3. The Hands — Stress Holding and Upper Body Tension

The hands are another major outlet for stress.

Clenching the fists — even subtly — activates the forearm flexors and sends tension up the chain into:

• the elbows

• the shoulders

• the neck

This pattern is frequently linked to:

• upper trapezius tension

• rotator cuff irritation

• shoulder impingement

• reduced shoulder mobility

From a nervous system perspective, clenching the hands signals readiness and defence.

When this becomes chronic, the upper body remains in a state of low-grade contraction.

Many shoulder problems improve significantly when treatment includes the hands and forearms, not just the shoulder joint itself.

4. The Jaw — TMJ, Headaches, and Neck–Shoulder Pain

Jaw clenching is one of the most common — and most powerful — tension patterns in the body.

Clenching the jaw affects:

• the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)

• cranial tension patterns

• cervical spine alignment

This often presents as:

• headaches or migraines

• neck stiffness

• trigger points

• trapezius and scapular tension

• thoracic discomfort

The jaw has strong neurological and fascial connections to the neck and shoulders.

When it remains clenched, even during sleep, the upper body never fully down-regulates.

Many people are surprised to learn that their shoulder or neck pain improves when the jaw is treated directly.

Why Treating the Source Matters

Pain often shows up at the end of a chain, not the beginning.

If treatment focuses only on where it hurts:

• relief is often temporary

• patterns quickly return

• frustration builds

Massage and reflexology can go a long way in addressing these issues at their source — if the practitioner understands:

• holding patterns

• kinetic chains

• nervous system involvement

• and how stress manifests physically

When tension is released from the feet, buttocks, hands, and jaw, the body often reorganises naturally.

Soft Tissue Freedom = Skeletal Freedom

Softer, more responsive muscles allow:

• joints to move more freely

• posture to improve without force

• load to distribute evenly

• movement to feel easier and less guarded

The skeletal system functions optimally when it is not being pulled or compressed by chronic muscular tension.

This is not about forcing alignment.

It’s about removing unnecessary holding so the body can find balance again.

Final Integration

Discomfort is rarely random.

It follows patterns.

By understanding where tension enters the system — and why — we can stop chasing symptoms and start restoring balance intelligently.

The body doesn’t need to be fixed.

It needs to be listened to, supported, and allowed to let go.