Posture and culture

[ColoWayno]

Rip,
I posted a longer version of this question right before the server upgrade so my apologies if this is a repeat.

I've seen threads where people claim to have excessive anterior hip tilt and suggestions to the effect that it needs to be "fixed". (In one case it was identified as a cause in making the belly protrude).

In your experience is this a common problem?
How would a person know if it was a problem?

I know female models (or women that want to look "hot") will exaggerate anterior tilt for the obvious effect. It seems that some of our guys might be culturally influenced to do the opposite for similarly silly reasons. I've had luck with a program that encourages normal hip posture (and of course your excellent SS program which is normalizing in itself). By the way, the combination of the programs gave me an extra quarter inch of height at age 46 and a much happier back.

[Mark Rippetoe]

I don't think a hyperlordosis a common problem, but I've certainly seen it, much more frequently in women. Spinal hyper-mobility is potentially more a problem than a lack of mobility, because the looseness predisposes to disc and facet joint injury waaaay more than a tight spine does. Tight is bad, no doubt, but hyperflexion under a load can be very dangerous. The remedy is position awareness (since you've correctly observed that this is usually a learned pattern) and abdominal tightness/strength. We have one of these people at about every other seminar, and we just have to teach them to stay in -- what feels like to them -- spinal flexion.

[Sami]

This is of interest to me. I've had a long running (6-7 years) issue with my L5/S1 disc and the accompanying facets. I've also realised I've got some pelvic tilt issues resulting in a London Tiger-esque 'Squat Ass' and a slightly distended stomach even when I was skinny with a bit of abs.

I might benefit from a bit more awareness of this stuff.

[Ian Kovtunovich]

It seems that some of our guys might be culturally influenced to do the opposite for similarly silly reasons. I've had luck with a program that encourages normal hip posture (and of course your excellent SS program which is normalizing in itself). By the way, the combination of the programs gave me an extra quarter inch of height at age 46 and a much happier back.

Any info or linkage to this program that encourages normal hip posture?

I've got the anterior tilt, but I swear it's just 'cause I'm a slouching slob, or maybe it was always there. Sure as fuck wasn't a learned behavior, though..."sweet, check this out! Even though I weigh a buck fifty and have the ripped upper body of the rock climber that I am, I can tilt my hips forward and make it look like I've got a beer gut! I'm gonna let these abs go slack and see if I can score some action with the ladies."