The pelvic obliquity is not always immediately apparent and symptoms often occur in other places. These include back pain. It is not immediately apparent that a pelvic obliquity could be hidden behind the back pain.
Regardless of gender and age, anyone can be affected. Not even the slightest deviation can cause a serious problem. Depending on the extent, this can also remain inconspicuous. In the following text the causes, possible consequences of a pelvic obliquity as well as exercises and tips for detection are listed.
Causes
The causes of a pelvic obliquity are manifold and in most cases cannot be traced back completely. Often such a finding is discovered only by chance and the trigger remains unknown. Not always there must be only one cause.
Several circumstances can lead to a pelvic obliquity.
- A frequent cause is an imbalance of the musculature. This is often caused by weak and/or excessive tension in the back muscles.
Since this is connected to the iliac crest, one side of the pelvis can be torn out of its physiological position (ISG blockage). This muscle imbalance in the back is caused by incorrect loading and a habitual posture.
- Other causative mechanisms can be traumatic. For example, the iliac crest can be displaced by external forces.
The cause does not always have to be the pelvis itself. It can also come from the spine.
- If there is a malposition in the spinal column itself (e.g. scoliosis), this can in any case affect the pelvis. This illustrates that the cause may not always be local, but may also come indirectly from other parts of the body.
Consequences
Depending on the cause, different consequences can result from a pelvic obliquity. They do not have to be immediately apparent or can also lead to minor or severe complaints. A frequent accompanying symptom is back pain.
Since the pelvis is connected to the spine, this can have a direct effect on it. This results in relief of one side and increased strain on the other side. However, not only the back muscles but also the gluteal muscles can be tense (Piriformis syndrome).
In addition, the incorrect strain on one side can lead to painful bursitis in the hip region. Further pain can occur in the hip or knee area. A joint is put under increased strain due to the imbalance and can cause discomfort.
If the pelvic obliquity is very pronounced and persists for years and remains untreated, wear and tear can also occur in the joints. This includes not only the hip and knee joints, but also the joints of the spine. Also, the intervertebral discs can only be loaded on one side and thus lead to damage of the disc.
