How Pelvic Imbalance Leads to Lateral Pelvic Tilt and Back Pain: A Driver’s Perspective

Are you in the driver’s seat for several hours every day? The commute to and from work, and running errands, among other long drives, can certainly be a significant contributor to ailing bodies. The most common complaint for one driving consistently can be something that starts as a pelvic imbalance that may progress into lateral tilted pelvic and lead to chronic lower back pain.

Let’s examine how this occurs in more detail and what you can do to prevent it.

What is Pelvic Imbalance?

The pelvis is the strongest part of your body. When it’s balanced, your spine, hips, and legs all operate together without any issues. Oppositely, your pelvis may tilt or twist to one side as a result of bad posture, repeated motions (like driving), and prolonged sitting.

A lateral pelvic tilt, which happens when one side of the pelvis sits higher than the other, can be brought on over time by this imbalance. A series of discomforts and dysfunctions may arise from this misalignment, including:

• Uneven leg length.
• Strain on the lower back muscles.
• Misalignment of the spine.
• Increased pressure on the hips and knees.

How Driving is a Silent Contributor to Pelvic Imbalance?

Driving is an action that primarily favors one side of the body, specifically the right lower kinetic chain. When you use the brakes or press the accelerator, your right leg is actively involved, but your left leg is generally inactive. Over months or years, this recurrent pattern can lead to muscular imbalances, where:

• The right side becomes stronger and more coordinated (higher “muscle IQ”).
• The left side becomes weaker and less responsive.

In addition, prolonged sitting while driving compresses your hip flexors and shortens them over time. This not only worsens pelvic tilt but also contributes to chronic tightness in your lower back.

How Pelvic Imbalance Leads to Back Pain

The natural curve of your spine turns when the pelvis tilts or rotates. Here’s how it affects your back:

• Uneven Pressure Distribution: One side of your lower back bears more weight when your pelvis is tilted, which causes weariness and muscular tension.
• Compression of Spinal Discs: Your lumbar spine’s discs may be compressed by asymmetry, raising the possibility of degeneration or herniation.
• Poor Shock Absorption: Your body’s capacity to absorb shock gets reduced by a misaligned pelvis, which makes even minor road bumps painful for your back.

Signs You Might Have Pelvic Imbalance

Not sure if driving is taking a toll on your pelvis? Look out for these signs:

• Lower back pain that worsens after sitting for long periods.
• One hip feels tighter or higher than the other.
• Difficulty standing evenly on both feet.
• Uneven wear on your shoes.

The Role of the ESAP Pelvic Leveler

You can counteract the effects of driving-induced pelvic imbalance with simple yet effective tools like the ESAP Pelvic Leveler. Designed specifically to mimic driving motions, this device helps:

• Re-train the left lower kinetic chain through repetitive plantar flexion (pressing down) and dorsiflexion (lifting).
• Balance the muscle activity between the left and right sides.
• Restore pelvic alignment by strengthening the midfoot and hip flexors on the underused side.

The incorporation of the pelvic leveler into your daily routine allows for gradual correction of the imbalance, improvement in posture, and reduction in cases of back pain. If you want to know more about how to use the ESAP pelvic leveler, here is a video by Dr. Rob Mabry explaining all about its usage.

In Conclusion

Although pelvic imbalance may not seem like a serious issue, it can cause persistent discomfort and back pain if left untreated, especially for those of us who drive a lot. Your body may return to its normal alignment and you can ride pain-free if you know how this imbalance arises and take proactive measures to fix it.