Back Issues Are Dumb

[OakLeaf]

Yeah, like I said though, that can come from stiffness in the thoracic spine and can be partially anatomical, too. You can see where the hipbones line up in those drawings and the one on the right is indeed anteriorly tilted, but it's not as easy as if they'd drawn the pelvis as well as the spine. Take a look at this, particularly Fig. 5 - while that one is just pelves without sacra or spines, you can see how the corresponding sacra would have to be at different angles, too.

I'm sure I set myself up for some of the trouble I'm having now by trying to force my pelvis farther and farther into posterior tilt so that my ASIS/PSIS and my lumbar spine would line up to people's satisfaction (including some running instructors and health care professionals') - instead of "lifting my sitbones," as my wonderful yoga teacher puts it.

At this point I look pretty swaybacked when I urge my pelvis towards neutral too, but that's as much from thoracic stiffness as it is simply anatomical. It sure does feel more comfortable to run that way though - I can finally get my legs into full extension - and it's the only way I can balance in headstand or handstand (or could, when my neck and shoulders would allow it ).


I'm not saying yours isn't anteriorly tilted, obviously - just it's important to be sure and not try to go the exact wrong direction the way I did for so long. The fact that you feel that sitting has contributed to it is a clue ... sitting obviously urges the pelvis into a posterior tilt ...

[zoom-zoom]

Interesting--those are very different shapes.

Another thing that has me suspicious that my pelvis is "abnormal" is my seriously tilted uterus, endometriosis, and inability to successfully use menstrual cups (I tried 2 reusable ones and the Instead disposables. All were uncomfortable and leaked...actually, the insteads were comfortable, just useless). Stuff just doesn't fit right. My mom and sister have the same issues. We're all bubble-butted, too (as is my brother).