Anterior Pelvic Tilt

The diaphragm is a dome shaped muscle which separates the thoracic and abdominal compartment. It has three openings consisting of vena cava foramen, oesophageal hiatus and aortic hiatus allowing passage from thorax to the abdomen.

1. Oesophagus facilitates the passage of food into the stomach
2. Inferior vena cava helps to move deoxygenated blood from lower limbs, abdomen and pelvis region back up to the heart
3. Aorta is the main artery in the body carrying oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body
4. Thoracic duct is the largest lymphatic vessel in the body and is responsible for drainage of tissue fluid

Thoracic diaphragm and pelvic floor diaphragm work like a piston massaging the abdominal contents and regulating pressure between the thoracic and abdominal compartment to govern fluid exchange and drainage. Having an anterior pelvic tilt can disturb this arrangement leading to general poor health and limit the movement in the hip as well as causing compression in the low back spine.

To bring the forward pelvis to a more neutral position, we need to engage the hamstring muscles to tuck the pelvis under, this would then create a stacking of thoracic diaphragm and pelvic floor/diaphragm creating optimal health with free flowing fluid in the body system.

With osteopathy we could help to inhibit/relax certain muscles that are tight holding the pelvic in an anterior position and relax the diaphragm. You will also be given some exercises to teach you how to activate or strengthen certain muscle groups to bias the pelvis towards neutral position.