Anterior Pelvic Tilt: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options
Anterior pelvic tilt is said to affect as many as 33% of all people. It can cause a wide range of symptoms or go largely undetected for a person’s entire life. In this blog post, we will discuss what anterior pelvic tilt is, the causes, the symptoms, and the treatment options available. We hope this information will help you understand this condition better and make informed decisions about how to find relief.
What Is Anterior Pelvic Tilt?
Anterior pelvic tilt, also known as anterior tilted pelvis, is a postural condition that occurs when the front of the pelvis tilts down and forward. It often causes an exaggerated arch in the lower back (lumbar spine) with increased prominence of the buttocks. The effects of this can include an unnatural curvature of the spine, chronic low-back pain, numbness, and difficulty walking or standing.
What Causes Anterior Pelvic Tilt?
Anterior pelvic tilt can be caused by genetics, poor posture habits, muscular imbalances in the body, or a combination of these factors. It is most common in individuals who sit for long periods without taking breaks to stretch out their muscles periodically throughout the day (e.g., those working at desks). Additionally, anterior pelvic tilt may result due to muscular imbalances between opposing muscle groups like hamstrings versus quadriceps; tight hip flexors that pull the pelvis forward when standing upright cause an exaggerated arch.
Effects Of Anterior Pelvic Tilt
Anterior pelvic tilt causes the hip flexor muscles to pull on the front of your pelvis, which causes a forward tilt. This will make you look shorter or stockier than you are and can contribute to back problems if left untreated. Symptoms include pain in both legs from overuse injuries such as patellar tendonitis, poor posture, and possible development of further complications. If you feel like you suffer from this condition, it’s important to seek treatment so that the problems don’t get worse over time with age-related changes like osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear) which may develop secondary to abnormal joint loading patterns resulting from prolonged anterior pelvic tilting postures throughout one’s lifetime.
Treating Anterior Pelvic Tilt
While anterior pelvic tilt does not always require treatment, there are several options available if you do experience symptoms. One option is to make changes to your lifestyle habits. This includes practicing good posture, strengthening your core muscles, and stretching regularly.
Another option is a combination of corrective exercise and physical therapy. The goal of treatment is to reduce pain, improve mobility in the spine, strengthen the core muscles, and correct any muscular imbalances that may be present. A conservative approach to treatment may include corrective exercise and stretches, physical therapy, and chiropractic care to help restore normal movement and alignment of the pelvis. In more severe cases, surgery may be recommended to correct anatomical abnormalities or loosen tight ligaments.
No matter what approach is best for you, it’s important to seek professional help to get the best results. Improper diagnosis and treatment of anterior pelvic tilt can lead to further pain and discomfort.