96 Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology
to improve the condition, and little improvement
will be seen with just strengthening the abdominal
muscles. Testing for range of motion of the hip flex-
ors is recommended (see chapter 4) so that it can be
determined whether these muscles are a contributing
factor and need to be stretched.
Unfortunately, improving strength and flexibil-
ity in key muscles is often not sufficient to correct
lumbar hyperlordosis, and working with changing
movement patterns is also necessary. Studies sug-
gest that some individuals tend to maintain posture
more with the spinal extensors versus the abdomi-
nals (Klausen, Nielsen, and Madsen, 1981) and also
show more prevalent use of the spinal extensors in
movement (Hamliton and Luttgens, 2002). Many
dancers with hyperlordosis appear to exhibit exces-
sive back extensor activation, and successful change
in this posture for standing and dynamic movement
often involves greater co-activation of the abdomi-
nal muscles and upper back extensors for correct
positioning and spinal stabilization. In an effort to
achieve this, cueing dancers to “pull the pubic bone
up” (inferior attachment of some of the abdominalmuscles) so that it is in line with the ASIS can help
achieve neutral alignment. Overexaggeration of
incorrect positions (anterior tilt and posterior tilt),
visual cues, and tactile cues are often helpful for
“relearning” neutral pelvis and ideal spinal align-
ment, as the lumbar hyperlordosis posture will feel
“normal” and corrections foreign.
Some dancers who have a greater degree of
lumbar lordosis or who excessively extend the spine
higher up also will tend to displace the lower ribs
forward (sometimes termed “rib leading”) and may
also need to focus on bringing the lower rib cage
“down and back.” In essence this involves a con-
traction of the abdominal muscles whereby both supe-
rior and inferior attachments move and are brought
closer together, shortening the distance between the
front of the rib cage and pubic bone. Cueing to knit
the front of the pelvis and rib cage closer together while
still maintaining a lift along the central plumb line or
lift of the upper back can sometimes be effective.
Rehearsal of muscle activation patterns resulting
in desired alignment should gradually progress from
simple isolation exercises to simple dance skills suchFIGURE 3.24 (A) Lumbar hyperlordosis, (B) contraction of the abdominal muscles to establish the desired neutral
position of the pelvis and normal curve of the lumbar spine.