Have you ever been told by a fitness instructor or a health care professional to tuck your pelvis under to protect your back?
Look in any anatomy book at the skeletal system and you will see that the lower back is designed to have a curve in it. The curve of the lower back is there to absorb the “shock” of your body weight when you stand or move. When you tuck the pelvis under you are decreasing the curve of your lower spine and taking away the shock absorber. Doing this will eventually contribute to back pain. But that’s not all!
Our bodies work as a unit. Everything is connected in one way or another. A tucked pelvis can also create rounding in the upper back which can cause the shoulders to move forward. A rounded upper back can cause the head to go forward. Below the waist the tucked pelvis will change the way the leg muscles work. The change in the work of the leg muscles due to a tucked pelvis will force a slight bend at the knees. Overtime the uneven pressure on the knees can lead to a wearing of the cartilage, inflammation and pain.
Anytime you change the design of the skeletal system it effects the system as a whole. There are safe ways to exercise with or without weights that do not involve changing the natural alignment. Use your Egoscue programs to align your body (get straight). Then when you embark on a fitness activity (strengthen), allow the natural curve in your spine and keep your shoulders back while performing upper body exercises. If you need additional guidance, we are happy to help.
