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Glossary

What Is Anterior Pelvic Tilt?

Anterior Pelvic Tilt is a forward rotation of the pelvis that increases the inward curve of the lower back. The front of the pelvis moves downward while the back moves upward. This position can change how the hips, lumbar spine, abdominal muscles, and nearby soft tissues share movement and load during standing or walking.

Quick Facts About Anterior Pelvic Tilt

Category

Posture and pelvic alignment

Used for

Posture assessment

Common confusion

Often confused with lumbar lordosis

Also called

Pelvic Tilt, Anterior pelvic rotation

Often discussed with

Posture Correction

Key Takeaways About Anterior Pelvic Tilt

  • The pelvis rotates forward around the hip joints.
  • Standing posture can influence how the tilt appears.
  • Anterior pelvic tilt is not the same as lumbar lordosis.

How Anterior Pelvic Tilt Works

A clinician presses both hands on a patient’s lower back in a bright exam room

Anterior Pelvic Tilt describes a change in pelvic position that affects the relationship between the pelvis and the lumbar spine. The pelvis rotates forward around the hip joints, so the front edge drops and the back edge rises. This position often increases the visible inward curve of the lower back.

Related glossary terms: Lordosis, Lumbar Spine, Sacroiliac Joint.

A clinician considers pelvic position alongside hip movement, spinal alignment, muscle control, and standing habits. Lumbar lordosis refers to the inward curve of the lower spine, while pelvic tilt describes the pelvis's orientation. These patterns may appear together, but they name different body regions. Posture Correction may address movement control and positioning across the hips, pelvis, and spine.

A card shows a pelvis and spine diagram with the heading “ANTERIOR PELVIC TILT” and red curved arrows

From the Arrowhead Clinic Chiropractor Marietta team

When we assess Anterior Pelvic Tilt, we observe standing alignment and check how the pelvis moves with the hips and lumbar spine. We also consider posture during common tasks, such as sitting, standing, and walking. Our team uses those findings to guide posture-focused care without treating the pelvic position as an isolated finding.

Anterior Pelvic Tilt in Practice: A Real-World Example

During a posture assessment, a person may stand with the front of the pelvis angled downward and a more pronounced lower-back curve. A clinician may examine how that position changes during hip movement as part of Posture Correction.

Related Terms

Lordosis

Lordosis is an inward curve of the spine, most often seen in the neck or lower…

Lumbar Spine

The lumbar spine is the lower section of the spinal column, located between the thoracic spine…

Sacroiliac Joint

The Sacroiliac Joint is the connection between the sacrum at the base of the spine and…

Range Of Motion

Range Of Motion is the extent to which a joint can move through its available directions…

Arrowhead Clinic Chiropractor Marietta

Have Questions About Anterior Pelvic Tilt?

Contact Arrowhead Clinic Chiropractor Marietta for practical guidance on Anterior Pelvic Tilt and related chiropractor work in Marietta.

The health and wellness information on this website is for general informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult a qualified licensed provider in Marietta, Georgia, United States about your specific condition before making care decisions. Individual results vary.

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