The Pelvic Girdle and Hip Joint 185at the hip joint are linked with pelvic movements
as follows. When the thigh is raised backward (hip
hyperextension), the pelvis tends to tilt anteriorly;
when one thigh is widely abducted or adducted,
the pelvis tilts laterally; and when one leg is placed
forward and the other backward as in taking a long
stride, the pelvis rotates. Associated movements of
the lumbar spine can be determined from table
4.2. As previously stated, in dance vocabulary, the
timing and extent of these linked movements are
often dictated by the aesthetics of the specific school
of dance. Frequently, there is an emphasis on mini-
mizing these linked movements in early ranges of
motion and reserving their use for the end ranges
of motion in an effort to maximize the height the
leg can be lifted. In addition, in strengthening and
stretching exercises, there is often an emphasis
on limiting initial use of linked pelvic motions so
that greater overload can occur to the targeted hip
muscle group.Pelvic Stabilization
While the previous description emphasized the
linked movements between the pelvis, spine, and
hip joint, there are also many instances in which the
emphasis is on keeping the pelvis stationary or on
limiting the movements of the pelvis during move-
ments (or certain phases of movements) of either
the femur or spine. This process of keeping the pelvis
relatively stationary during movement is termed pelvic
stabilization and can be considered one component
of core stabilization. Since the muscles that are used
to lift the leg attach onto the pelvis, they will tend to
produce movements of the pelvis, lumbar spine, and
leg unless the pelvis is stabilized. For example, when
the thigh is lifted to the front in an attitude, because
the proximal attachments of many of the hip flexors
are on the front of the pelvis they will tend to simul-
taneously create an anterior pelvic tilt and lumbar
lordosis, as well as the desired motion of hip flexion.
However, other muscles can be used to stabilize the
pelvis and prevent these undesired movements of the
pelvis and spine so that visible motion is primarily
confined to flexion of the thigh at the hip joint.
There are various strategies for achieving the
desired stabilization of the pelvis and spine. In the
previous chapter, co-activation of the abdominals
and back extensors for trunk stabilization was
described. Another vital strategy when standing
(closed kinematic chain conditions) is co-activa-
tion of the abdominals and hamstrings, termed the
abdominal–hamstring force couple. As seen in figure
4.22, when the limb is fixed such as when standing
erect, the proximal attachment of the hamstrings
can become the moving end, pulling the ischial
tuberosities downward while the lower attachment
of the abdominals pulls the pubes upward, both
acting to produce a posterior pelvic tilt or prevent
an anterior pelvic tilt.
In dance, use of the abdominal–hamstring force
couple and other strategies for stabilization of the
pelvis are often encouraged when standing on one
or both legs so that movement is primarily isolated
to the hip joint proper, or at least that movements
of the pelvis are limited to an extent allowed by the
given dance aesthetic. The refined ability to appro-
priately time and control movements of the pelvisFIGURE 4.21 Performing a front battement with a bent
support knee allows for greater use of the pelvic-femo-
ral rhythm to increase leg height.