Pelvic obliquity means that the pelvis is out of alignment.
What is Pelvic Obliquity?
Pelvic obliquity is also known as pelvic misalignment, pelvic rotation, or tilted pelvis. If the muscles on one side of the body are more tense than the other, the spine is affected by “asymmetrical forces”. This may make a person’s legs appear as if they are unequal, or as if there are uneven hips. Pelvic alignment is important. Pelvic obliquity causes problems with the knees, hips, feet, and disks.1 If the patient’s leg lengths are not equal, if there is a “structural scoliosis”, and/or if there are “contractures about the hips”, a patient may be diagnosed with pelvic obliquity. Correcting these conditions can resolve the problems.
Sometimes the causes are congenital.2 In the case of scoliosis (curvature of the spine), it is important to diagnose the condition and treat it early, in order to prevent pelvic obliquity. Medical doctors and chiropractors may take scans or X-rays to diagnose the tilted pelvis. The sooner the situation is treated, the better the chances the patient has of a full recovery. Without treatment, long-term damage may occur.3 Sometimes, a tilted pelvis (and low back pain) are caused by a muscle strain in the lower torso. Another cause may be inflammation or “tightness of the iliopsoas muscle due to prolonged sitting”.4
Treatment Options
Depending on the cause of the pelvic rotation, treatments vary. If there is a leg length difference, for example, patients may need orthopedic inserts or special shoes. Rarely, surgical intervention will be required. For congenital scoliosis, patients may benefit from physiotherapy or progressive muscle relaxation.5 Chiropractors might employ spinal manipulation, perform myofascial treatments for trigger points, use electrical muscle stimulation—with heat therapy—in order to reduce spasms in the muscles, give suggestions about stretches, and provide guidance about hydration (as dehydration could cause inflammation).6 Patients will likely be given suggestions and treatments that they can follow at home. If they are obese, they should lose weight. In terms of sleeping positions, it might be helpful to sleep with a pillow between the knees (if the patient is a side sleeper), or sleeping with a pillow under the knees (if the patient is a back sleeper). Regular exercises and stretches may also be prescribed. Because dehydration can cause inflammation, it is recommended that patients consume “40 ounces of water per day for every 100 pounds of body weight”. In addition, it is important to avoid activities that aggravate the condition.7
References:
1 http://www.atlantotec.com/en/disorders/leg-length-discrepancy-tilted-pelvis-pelvic-obliquity
2 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3715623
3, 5 http://med-specialists.com/pelvic-obliquity/
4 http://backandneck.about.com/od/conditions/ss/tiltedpelvis_4.htm
6 http://backandneck.about.com/od/conditions/ss/tiltedpelvis_5.htm#step-heading
7 http://backandneck.about.com/od/conditions/ss/tiltedpelvis_7.htm#step-heading
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