US Olympian goes viral for bizarre tongue exercises to release tension in her pelvic floor

Colleen Quigley — a middle-distance runner and 2016 Olympian — has shared an odd technique to relieve herself from pelvic pain on social media, raising eyebrows in the process. 

The 31-year-old steeplechase specialist took to Instagram on Tuesday to share that pulling her tongue out before hitting the track helps her stay on top of her game on race day.

The world record holder can be seen removing her tank top at first in footage posted on her profile, before she grabs her tongue, pulls it out and moves it to the left, right, and up and down. She holds her tongue in each direction before switching angles. 

‘Sometimes you drool on yourself – just try to relax into it,’ Quigley says in the video, nothing that muscles in her jaw become immediately loose after her going through with her technique.

Quigley is technically right about pulling out your tongue to relieve pain in the pelvic area, as tongues and jaws are both linked to the pelvis through the body’s myofascial system of connective tissues.

Colleen Quigley, who competed in the 2016 Olympics’ steeplechase, revealed a pelvic pain-relieving technique involving her tongue on Instagram, earlier this week. It’s now gone viral

Quigley – seen at the 2023 ESPYS – credits a chiropractor specialist in Texas for the technique 

Quigley credits Dr. Noah Moos – a chiropractor specialist in Texas, who’s previously treated US Olympians – for learning about the tongue twisting trick. 

However, Quigley admits that people have given her strange looks in the past while she’s been doing the technique.

Fans commenting under Quigley’s Instagram post couldn’t believe what they had just looked at online.

But, they agreed with the track and field star.

‘Is it April fools? *checks* it’s August 19,’ a person wrote. 

Fans commenting under Quigley’s Instagram post couldn’t believe that the trick actually works

‘Ok but why am I sticking my tongue out while watching this?’ someone else pointed out.

‘Hahahahaha this made me laugh so much. I love it. But I also know the research with therapy and tongue ties and how they cause tension in your body so it makes sense!’ shared another person.

‘Makes total sense- relaxing your jaw / mouth is also a technique they teach you for unmedicated childbirth… bc jaw/ pelvis! Bodies are so cool,’ said a user.