Chiropractic Care for Pelvic Tilt

Chiropractic care aims to bring the spine and the body’s joints back into alignment. This eases pain and improves overall health. It’s also a safe and effective treatment for pelvic tilt.

If you are experiencing pain associated with issues with pelvic tilt, a chiropractor can help you diagnose the cause and create a treatment strategy that’s ideal for your body.

Understanding Pelvic Tilt

Your pelvis has a vital role in your body’s structure and function. It distributes weight to your lower limbs and makes movement possible. It also holds many of your organs in place.

The pelvis should be in a neutral position while at rest. There should be no leaning forward or backward. Pelvic tilt happens when the muscles are overstretched or worked too hard, causing them to pull in one or the other direction, leading to various complications.

Pelvic tilt symptoms include:

• Femoroacetabular impingement: Occurs due to repetitive use of the femoral socket in the hip when things are out of alignment. It causes pain in the joint.
• Low back pain: Aches, pains, and feelings of being stabbed are common with pelvic tilt, especially during strenuous activities. 
• Sacroiliac joint pain: The two sacroiliac joints in the lower back become inflamed, causing pain to spread throughout the area, as well as the groin, thighs, buttocks, and upper back.

Types of Pelvic Tilt

• Anterior pelvic tilt: Occurs when your hip flexor muscles become shorter due to sitting for too long, pulling the pelvis down into a forward tilt.
• Posterior pelvic tilt: Occurs when the hip extensors shorten and cause the pelvis to tilt backward. 
• Lateral pelvic tilt: Occurs when the pelvis shifts from side to side and causes one hip to rise higher than the other. It causes a unilateral imbalance throughout the body.

Common Causes and Risk Factors

Some of the most common causes of pelvic tilt include:

• Too sedentary a lifestyle
• Too much timing sitting
• Poor posture
• Too much time in a lounging posture

Most people develop a pelvic tilt due to a combination of sitting for too long and not observing proper posture. As more and more people work behind a desk, the incidences of pelvic tilt increase. 

Impact on Posture, Movement, and Overall Well-Being

Pelvic tilt impacts your entire body, including your posture and ability to move without discomfort. Some of the most common issues people with pelvic tilt experience include:

• Back pain
• Overstretched hamstrings
• Stomach bulge

The Role of Chiropractic Care in Pelvic Tilt Treatment

Chiropractic treatments are one of the most effective tools available for alleviating pelvic tilt problems. What role does a chiropractor play in treating pelvic tilt?

Comprehensive Assessment and Diagnosis

Chiropractors offer an initial assessment and diagnosis of the problem. They do this using a visual analysis of the body. Often, this is enough for them to recognize pelvic tilt and know what’s causing the pain.

• Other diagnostic tools used in cases of pelvic tilt include
• Caliper-based inclinometer to measure the slope of the pelvis
• Hand-held analysis
• Radiographic analysis

You can also use a smartphone app to measure your pelvic tilt.

Chiropractic Adjustments for Pelvic Alignment

Chiropractic adjustments address pelvic alignment and make corrections where necessary. Chiropractors use spinal manipulations, soft tissue treatment such as massage, and the activator method to improve the health of the spine and pelvic area. These techniques loosen tense muscles, enhance blood flow, and stimulate certain spine areas to restore alignment.

Complementary Therapies and Exercises

A chiropractor will use several therapies and exercises to improve pelvic tilt. These include:

• Lengthen hip flexors
• Activating and strengthening the gluteal muscles
• Strengthening your core

It’s best to avoid traditional flexion stretches when treating pelvic tilt. 

Collaborative Care

Chiropractors need to work with your other healthcare providers when treating pelvic tilt. This includes your doctor, physical therapists, and exercise specialists. This allows everyone to coordinate care and achieve optimal outcomes. If your chiropractor is the first medical professional you see for pelvic tilt, they can refer you to other treatment providers if and when needed.

Empowering Patients: Self-Care Strategies for Pelvic Tilt

One of the greatest benefits of working with a chiropractor for any problem is that they help you take control of your health and well-being. Chiropractors empower patients by providing them with self-care tips and strategies to improve their health. 

Some of the best tips for easing pelvic tilt pain and/or preventing pelvic tilt from developing include:

• Avoid prolonged periods of sitting.
• Take breaks throughout the day to stretch and walk.
• Sit with your tailbone pressed into the back of your chair.
• Use a pillow between your knees to keep your pelvis in a neutral position during the night.
• Lose weight, if necessary.
• Ensure the height of your desk, chair, and computer screen is ideal to avoid slumping.
• Use a chair with lumbar support.
• Put a rolled-up towel under your lower back when sleeping.
• Wear a weight-training or postural corrective device.

Targeted Exercises and Stretches

A chiropractor will help you with exercises to improve pelvic tilt during your in-office appointments. They will also give you exercises you can practice independently at home.

Exercises to help with anterior pelvic tilt include:

• Squats
• Planks
• Lying pelvic tilts
• Hip flexor stretches

Exercises to help with posterior pelvic tilt include:

• Glute bridges
• Abdominal press-ups/Cobra pose
• Seated hamstring stretch
• Back extensions/Superman exercise
• Straight leg raises

Postural Awareness and Body Mechanics

Chiropractors help patients learn proper posture and body mechanics. This can not only help prevent or correct pelvic tilt but also help you manage various other health issues related to your posture. 

Dr. Darren Faherty D.C.

In 2004, Dr. Darren Faherty graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology from UWEC - University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. Dr. Darren continued education at the highly esteemed University of Western States (formerly Western States Chiropractic College) where he obtained his chiropractic degree in 2007. He has been helping people recover from injuries and return to their normal lifestyles ever since.