Pelvic tilt
Encyclopedia
The concept of pelvic tilt in anatomy refers to the orientation of the pelvis
in respect to the femurs it rests upon and in space. It can tilt in four basic directions.
Pelvis
In human anatomy, the pelvis is the lower part of the trunk, between the abdomen and the lower limbs .The pelvis includes several structures:...
in respect to the femurs it rests upon and in space. It can tilt in four basic directions.
Forms
- Anterior pelvic tilt is when the front of the pelvis drops and the back of the pelvis rises. This happens when the hip flexorsHip flexorsIn human anatomy, the hip flexors are a group of skeletal muscles that act to flex the femur onto the lumbo-pelvic complex, i.e., pull the knee upward....
shorten and the hip extensorsHip extensorsIn human anatomy, the hip extensors are a group of skeletal muscles that act to extend the femur from the lumbo-pelvic complex, i.e., pull the knee down and backward....
lengthen. - Posterior pelvic tilt is the opposite, when the front of the pelvis rises and the back of the pelvis drops. This happens when the hip extensors shorten, particularly the gluteus maximus which is the primary hyperextensor of the hip. This requires lengthening in the hip flexors.
- Lateral pelvic tilt describes tilting in both directions and is associated with scoliosisScoliosisScoliosis is a medical condition in which a person's spine is curved from side to side. Although it is a complex three-dimensional deformity, on an X-ray, viewed from the rear, the spine of an individual with scoliosis may look more like an "S" or a "C" than a straight line...
or people who have legs of different length. It can also happen when one leg is bent while the other remains straight, in that case the bent side's hip can follow the femur as knee lowers towards the ground. - Left pelvic tilt is when the right side of the pelvis is elevated higher than the left side.
- Right pelvic tilt is when the left side of the pelvis is elevated higher than the right side.
Balance
- To keep balance standing upright with anterior tilt, the spine is hyper-extended with the rectus abdominis lengthening and the erector spinaeErector spinaeThe Erector spinæ is a muscle group of the back in humans and animals. It is also known as sacrospinalis in older texts. A more modern term is extensor spinae, though this is not in widespread use. The name of the muscle is pronounced e-rec-tor speen-aye, or e-rec-tor spinae-ee.It is really not...
shortening. This is associated with lordosisLordosisLordosis is a medical term used to describe an inward curvature of a portion of the lumbar and cervical vertebral column. Two segments of the vertebral column, namely cervical and lumbar, are normally lordotic, that is, they are set in a curve that has its convexity anteriorly and concavity...
. Lordosis does not always occur with anterior tilt when the weight is borne in other ways, such as when supported by the arms, or when the hips drift backward (posterior femur tilt) or when enough him flexion occurs that a kyphotic spine can be balanced over an anterior tilted pelvis. - To keep balance with posterior tilt, the spine is rounded with the rectus shortened and the erector spinae lengthened. This leads to a kyphotic posture. Kyphosis does not always occur in tandem with posterior tilt, when the weight is born in other ways, such as on the hands, which can allow a posteriorly tilted pelvis with a neutral or even lordotic spine.
- To keep balance with lateral tilt, rather than remaining upright the femur usually tilts to keep the weight centered over it. This requires a muscular effort by the hip abductors (glutei mediiGluteus medius muscleThe gluteus medius , one of the three gluteal muscles, is a broad, thick, radiating muscle, situated on the outer surface of the pelvis....
and minimiGluteus minimus muscleThe gluteus minimus , the smallest of the three gluteal muscles, is situated immediately beneath the gluteus medius.-Origin and insertion:...
of either side) to pull the pelvis up onto the femur. Otherwise, the pelvis would drop towards the airborne leg.
See also
- Adho Mukha ŚvānāsanaAdho Mukha Svanasanathumb|right|Downward-Facing DogAdho Mukha Svanasana, Adho Mukha Shvanasana , Downward-Facing Dog Pose, Downward Dog, or Down Dog, is an asana.- Etymology :...
involves anterior pelvic tilt while the spine remains neutral (in axial extension) so there is not lordosis. - Bridge (exercise)Bridge (exercise)Bridge is an exercise. Many variations of this exercise are employed throughout the world, most commonly the balancing of the body on the head and feet. Hands are occasionally used instead of or along with the head. It is effective in improving lower back strength...
and ChakrāsanaChakrasanaChakrasana or Wheel Pose is a yoga asana. It is part of the finishing sequence of the Primary Series of Ashtanga Yoga and is a backwards somersault into Chaturanga Dandasana-Etymology:...
involves posterior pelvic tilt, unlike standing the spine is extended rather than rounded because it is not being balanced upright, the weight is born between the feet and hands rather than the pelvis. - Ūrdhvadhanurāsana and Uṣṭhāsana also involve this to a less contorted degree.
- KyphosisKyphosisKyphosis , also called roundback or Kelso's hunchback, is a condition of over-curvature of the thoracic vertebrae...
- LordosisLordosisLordosis is a medical term used to describe an inward curvature of a portion of the lumbar and cervical vertebral column. Two segments of the vertebral column, namely cervical and lumbar, are normally lordotic, that is, they are set in a curve that has its convexity anteriorly and concavity...
- Lordosis behaviorLordosis behaviorLordosis behavior, or mammalian lordosis, is a sexual response in mammals, such as mice and cats, that consists of a ventral arching of the spine. During lordosis, the spine curves so that the apex points in the ventral direction. That is, the spine arches inward toward the abdomen.Lordosis aids in...
- ScoliosisScoliosisScoliosis is a medical condition in which a person's spine is curved from side to side. Although it is a complex three-dimensional deformity, on an X-ray, viewed from the rear, the spine of an individual with scoliosis may look more like an "S" or a "C" than a straight line...
- UttānāsanaUttanasanaUttanasana|thumb|113pxUttanasana, variation|thumb|113pxUttanasana , Intense Forward-Bending Pose, Intense Strech Pose, Standing Forward Bend, Standing Forward Fold Pose, or Standing Head to Knees Pose, is an asana.-Etymology:...
and other inverted forward bend poses combine anterior pelvic tilt with kyphosis because the intention is not to remain upright.
External links
- About.com Back and Neck - How to do a pelvic tilt
- About.com Yoga - Pelvic tilts
- About.com Yoga - Cat pose creates anterior tilt with lordosis, Cow pose creates posterior tilt with kyphosis
- Exercise Info on ExRx.net explanation of postural deficiencies
- Exercises for correcting anterior pelvic tilt
- Exercising pelvic tilt related to RolfingRolfingRolfing is a therapy system created by The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration and is a system whereby the alleged manipulation of the fasciae by specific methods is theorized to yield therapeutic benefit....
.