Understanding the Trauma Reflex

How One-Sided Pain Patterns Shape Our Bodies

When I first walked into a chiropractor's office in my mid-twenties, I was desperate for relief. The sciatica pain on my right side had become so severe that I couldn't even sit properly. Sharp, shooting pains radiated through my hip and buttocks, and occasionally, nerve jolts would literally knock my knees out from under me, sending me to the floor without warning.

I remember the chiropractor examining me and casually mentioning, "One leg is shorter than the other, but don't worry—everyone has that." I accepted this explanation without question. After all, he was the expert.

It wasn't until years later, when I discovered somatic movement, that I learned a profound truth: our bodies aren't supposed to be structurally imbalanced. What I had—what so many of us have been told is "normal"—was actually a perfect example of the trauma reflex at work.

What Is the Trauma Reflex?

Also known as the flexor reflex, the trauma reflex is an automatic response triggered when one side of our body experiences pain or injury. It's our nervous system's protective mechanism—a primitive, unconscious reaction designed to guard injured areas.

When we experience pain on one side of our body, the flexor muscles on that side contract to pull the affected area away from the source of discomfort. Simultaneously, the opposite side of our body engages to maintain balance. This is called the crossed-extensor reflex—nature's way of ensuring we don't topple over while protecting ourselves.

This reflex is incredibly helpful during moments of acute pain or immediate injury. The problem arises when this temporary protective pattern becomes a permanent way of moving and holding ourselves.

From Protective Response to Chronic Pattern

In my case, several car accidents and falls throughout my life had triggered this reflex repeatedly. Each incident reinforced the pattern, creating what somatic educators call "sensory-motor amnesia"—my brain and body forgot how to release these protective contractions.

The result? A body literally pulled out of alignment, with:

• One hip hiked higher than the other

• A rotated spine

• Uneven shoulder height

• The appearance of one leg being "shorter" than the other

Most importantly, this wasn't a structural issue—it was functional. My muscles had become chronically contracted on one side, pulling my skeleton into misalignment. No wonder I had sciatica—my nerves were being compressed by muscles that had forgotten how to release!

The Hidden Causes of Trauma Reflex Patterns

What's fascinating about the trauma reflex is how many different experiences can trigger it:

• Obvious injuries like falls or car accidents (as in my case)

• Repetitive movements favoring one side of the body

• Carrying heavy bags consistently on one shoulder

• Caring for small children on one hip

• Surgery on one side of the body

• Chronic pain that leads to favoring one side

Even habits as seemingly innocent as always crossing your legs the same way or using a computer mouse with the same hand can reinforce these patterns.

Beyond Sciatica: Other Signs of Trauma Reflex

The trauma reflex doesn't just manifest as sciatica. It can contribute to numerous conditions, including:

• Functional leg length discrepancy (what I was told I had)

• Scoliosis and other spinal curves

• Hip, knee, and ankle pain that seems to affect primarily one side

• Frozen shoulder or shoulder impingement

• Chronic neck pain and headaches

• Joint degeneration that progresses faster on one side

My Somatic Movement Journey

When I first learned about somatic movement and the trauma reflex, something profound shifted in me. I realized that my body wasn't broken or abnormally constructed—it was simply responding to the experiences it had endured.

Somatic movement education offered me something that years of other therapies hadn't: a way to address the root cause of my pain by re-educating my nervous system. Through gentle, mindful movements designed to pandiculate (contract and slowly release) the affected muscles, I began to sense parts of myself that had become numb through chronic contraction.

The process wasn't immediate. Years of holding patterns don't disappear overnight. But gradually, I began to feel more balanced. The sciatica that had plagued me for so long began to subside as my pelvis found a more neutral position. My gait became more symmetrical, and I noticed that the wear patterns on my shoes evened out.

I still deal with the effects of trauma reflex—old habits run deep—but somatic movement has given me tools to recognize when I'm falling back into those patterns and strategies to release the tension before pain returns in full force.

Breaking Free from the Trauma Reflex

If you recognize yourself in my story, here's what I've learned on my journey:

1. Awareness is the first step: Simply recognizing that your pain or imbalance may be the result of a reflex pattern rather than a structural problem opens the door to healing.

2. Movement, not manipulation: While adjustments, massage, and stretching provided temporary relief, learning to move differently created lasting change.

3. Patience is essential: These patterns develop over years or decades; releasing them completely takes time and consistent practice.

4. The power of pandiculation: Unlike stretching, which works primarily on muscles and connective tissue, pandiculation (the gentle contraction and slow release of muscles) retrains the nervous system itself.

5. Trust your inner experience: No one knows how your body feels from the inside but you. Learning to trust your somatic awareness—your internal sense of yourself—is a powerful step in healing.

A New Perspective

That chiropractor wasn't entirely wrong when he told me my legs were different lengths. From his perspective—looking at my body in that moment—they were. What he missed was that this wasn't an unchangeable structural reality, but a functional pattern created by my nervous system's attempts to protect me.

When we understand the trauma reflex, we gain a new perspective on our bodies and our pain. We see that much of what we've accepted as "just the way I'm built" or "getting older" might actually be habitual patterns that can be changed.

I'm grateful every day for discovering somatic movement. While I'm still on this journey of unwinding old patterns, I now know that my body has an innate capacity for balance and ease. The trauma reflex served its purpose—protecting me in moments of injury—but now I'm learning to thank it for its service and gently release its hold.

If you're experiencing one-sided pain or have been told you have structural imbalances, I encourage you to explore somatic movement. You might discover, as I did, that your body isn't broken—it's just doing exactly what it evolved to do. And with patience and awareness, you can teach it new ways to move and be.

---

Interested in exploring how somatic movement might support your healing journey? Contact me to learn about upcoming classes or schedule a private session.

Amanda Young is a certified Living Somatic Movement Teacher based in Clarksville, TN. She helps clients reconnect with their bodies through gentle, effective somatic movement practices. Learn more about working with Amanda here.