Tilted Pelvis: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

A tilted pelvis is a medical term used to describe an alignment of the pelvis that is not straight.

A tilted pelvis can be caused by many factors including poor posture, muscle weakness or tightness, wear and tear on the joints in the pelvis from childbirth, or overuse. The angle of the pelvic tilt can change depending on the way that one is standing or sitting. It can also change depending on what muscles are being used for support.

Treatment for a tilted pelvis includes strengthening exercises for muscles around the pelvis and core muscles as well as pelvic floor exercises.

Symptoms of a Tilted Pelvis

The symptoms of a tilted pelvis can vary depending on the severity of the tilt and how long it has been present. The symptoms of a tilted pelvis can cause difficulty walking, pain and discomfort when sitting, and in women, can exhibit as a more painful menstrual cycle or even difficulty in getting pregnant.

Some common symptoms of a tilted pelvis include:

• Low back pain
• Sciatica
• Hip pain
• Knee pain
• Neck Pain
• Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
• Lumbar sprain/strain
• Sacral stress fracture
• Digestive issues
• Headaches
• Urinary incontinence
• Sexual dysfunction

These symptoms can be either acute or chronic and may have other underlying causes.

Common Causes of a Tilted Pelvis

A tilted pelvis is a condition where the top of the pelvis tilts forward. This can happen for a number of reasons and can lead to other issues with the spine and lower back.

1) Pregnancy: During pregnancy, the uterus presses on the bladder and rectum which causes pressure on the pelvic floor. This leads to a tilt in your pelvis.

2) Obesity: Excess weight from obesity is often carried around your midsection which puts more pressure on your pelvic floor and causes it to tilt forward.

3) Lack of Exercise: When you don’t exercise, you lose muscle mass in your core which causes your pelvic floor to sag down and tilt your pelvis forward.

4) Injury or Surgery: If you’ve had an injury or surgery that has caused

Types of Tilted Pelvis

There are several types of pelvic tilt. They are:

1) The anterior pelvic tilt – Anterior pelvic tilt is the most common posture problem. It is characterized by a forward slope of the pelvis and is caused by an imbalance in the muscles on either side of the pelvis. One group pulls the pelvis forward while another group pulls it backward.

2) The posterior pelvic tilt – Posterior pelvic tilt is also a common postural deviation that occurs when the pelvis is tilted backward. It can be caused by a number of factors, such as sitting in an office chair for too long, wearing high-heeled shoes, or even carrying heavy weights on one side of the body. Posterior pelvic tilt causes the hip muscles to stretch out and tighten up and the spine to curve forward placing pressure on the discs between each vertebra.

3) The lateral pelvic tilt – Lateral pelvic tilt is a posture where the hips are tipped to one side, with the pelvis rotated on an axis. It is often confused with hip rotation. Lateral pelvic tilt can be caused by a muscle imbalance in the body, weakness, injury in one leg, or poor posture habits.

4) The oblique pelvic tilt – Oblique pelvic tilt is a pelvic posture in which the pelvis is tilted to one side while the spine is straight. The most common form of this type of tilt is lateral flexion or tilting to the right. This happens when the left hip moves forward and the right hip moves back. It is often caused when someone who has back pain assumes the posture to help them avoid excess strain on their back.

Chiropractic Treatment for a Tilted Pelvis

Chiropractors are trained to diagnose and treat this condition. Chiropractic treatment for a tilted pelvis is not only effective, but also safe for pregnant women. Treating a tilted pelvic can be done in a variety of ways. The prognosis for treatment is based on the severity of the tilt and if there are any other conditions that need to be treated as well.

Treatment of pelvic tilt begins with a spinal and pelvic adjustment to correct the misalignment, reduce any compression and stabilize the spine. This will help to relieve pain and discomfort and restore mobility.

In addition to chiropractic adjustments, in my office, I typically recommend a series of corrective exercise sessions to help strengthen and restore weaker muscle groups, including core exercises to further correct poor posture habits, easy to perform at-home exercises, or physical therapy depending on the severity of the patient’s individual condition and causes.

The goal of the chiropractic treatment plan is to restore the strong foundation of a stable spine and strengthen the supporting muscle groups to maintain proper posture and alignment and prevent long-term damage and future occurrences.

To schedule an appointment at Dutchess Braincore and Wellness Center call (845) 592-2237.