Why Your Tailbone May Be the Root of Your Pain
When most people think about back pain, hip pain, or even headaches, the tailbone isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But here’s the truth: your tailbone (or coccyx) is a key structure in your body with 27 different muscle, ligament, and tendon attachments.
That means if your tailbone is “off,” your entire anchor point is off.
What Happens When the Tailbone Is Misaligned?
Because the tailbone connects to so many structures, issues here can show up far away from your actual tailbone.
Common symptoms include:
One-sided hip pain
Tight groin
Headaches or jaw tension
Foot pain or plantar fasciitis-like symptoms
It’s like pulling on the end of a spider web. The ripple is felt everywhere.
When + How the Tailbone Gets Knocked Off
There are two main culprits we see most often:
1. Childbirth
During delivery, the tailbone can shift, flex too far underneath, or even get “stuck” turned to one side. That misalignment can linger for years if not addressed.
2. Everyday Accidents (Especially in Wisconsin!)
Sledding wipeouts
Slipping on ice
Bike seat trauma
Chair being pulled out from under you
Childhood falls you barely remember
Even if the accident happened years ago, the effects can still be showing up in your body today.
How We Fix It
The good news? Tailbone problems are highly treatable.
Treatment focuses on two key steps:
Loosening the Surrounding Tissues
Muscles and ligaments around the tailbone often get tight and hold it in the wrong position. Releasing those areas is the first step toward healing.
Realigning the Tailbone
The coccyx itself needs to be gently adjusted so it’s not stuck flexed underneath you or twisted to the side. Once corrected, your body can move and function from a stable anchor point again.
This mom of two is a runner that constantly was struggling with groin pain. After adjusting her tailbone she no longer has groin tightness.
This is after ONLY adjusting her tailbone and nothing else. It can have such a large affect!
Why This Matters
Your tailbone is more than just a tiny bone at the end of your spine. It’s an anchor for your whole system. Ignoring it can mean years of chasing symptoms that never fully go away.
So if you’ve had hip pain, groin tightness, recurring headaches, or even foot pain that doesn’t make sense… it might be time to look a little lower. 👀
Final Takeaway
The tailbone may be small, but it plays a big role in your body’s alignment and comfort. Whether it’s from childbirth, an old sledding accident, or slipping on the ice one too many times, don’t overlook it.
When the tailbone is released, realigned, and restored you finally get your anchor point back.