What is Lateral pelvic tilt?
When one hip is higher than the other, this is referred to as a lateral pelvic tilt. This causes unilateral muscular imbalances all across the body. The pelvis should be parallel to the ground and parallel to your shoulder. Some muscles are taught, whereas others are stretched and weak.
The Quadratus lumborum is the primary muscle responsible for pelvic lateral shift because it allows the pelvis to flex from side to side. Stabilize the pelvis as well. As this muscle tightens on one side of the spine, it pulls the pelvis up, causing a lateral pelvic tilt. Likewise, the hip abductor muscle weakens.
To determine whether you have a lateral tilted hip, stand in front of a mirror, position your hands on the highest point of your waistline, hold both ends of a rope in your palm, and compare the level of the rope. level of the rope should be equal.
Causes can be:
Other reasons may include sub-optimal habits (such as constantly leaning on one leg or sitting on one buttock), leg-length disparity, and neurological conditions (any disease that interferes with the nerve supply to the pelvic and hip muscles).
Lateral Pelvic Tilt can result in:
back & hip pain, unbalanced walking, and poor spine alignment, more chronic patients may develop scoliosis.
PHYSIOTHERAPY MANAGEMENT TO CORRECT LATERAL PELVIC TILT:
- Stretching exercise (for Quadratus lumborum, Adductor of the affected side, gluteus medius & Tensor fascia lata),
- Stretching of hip flexor and abdominal muscles,
- Muscle Release Therapy,
- MFR technique,
- Strengthening exercises on the weaker side (for glutes & hamstring),
- Reverse leg raise, reverse standing leg raise,
- Hip realignment (lie on your back with your feet against a wall and your knee and hip should be at 90 degrees, use the affected side to press your leg into the wall, and at the same time press your same hip down with your hand, hold for 10 seconds)
- Clamshells,
- Side planks,
- Foam roller of lower back/piriformis/hamstring & IT band.
