PELVIC Rock EXERCISES

Pelvic Rocking Exercises

• Upward backward "posterior pelvic tilting".
• Downward forward "anterior pelvic tilting".

N.B.
• In upward backward pelvic rocking the acting muscles are the abdominal muscles and hip extensors.
• In downward forward pelvic rocking the acting muscles are the back extensors muscles and hip flexors.

• They include muscles of the anterior abdominal wall, muscles of the posterior abdominal wall, Hip
Extensors and Back Extensors

I-Muscles of the anterior II-Muscles of the III-Hip Extensors IV-Back Extensors

abdominal wall: posterior abdominal wall:

From above downwards: They include: Gluteus Maximus Sacrospinalis or

Muscle Erectro Spinae
• External oblique muscle. Psoas major muscle.
Muscle
• Internal oblique muscle. Iliacus.

• Transversus abdominis Quadratus lumborum.

muscle.

• Rectus abdominis
muscle
 Upward backward posterior pelvic tilting

Downward Forward “Anterior pelvic tilting".

I-Muscles of the anterior abdominal wall

1- External Oblique Muscle
Origin: By slips from the outer surface and lower border of the lower 8 ribs.
Insertion:
• Its fibers pass obliquely downward, forwards and medially to be inserted.
• Along the midline from xiphoid process along the linea alba to the
symphysis pubis.
• To the inguinal ligament.
• In the anterior ½ of outer lip of iliac crest.

2- Internal Oblique Muscle

Origin: From lateral ⅔ of inguinal ligament, anterior ⅔ of inter mediate area of
iliac crest and lumbar fascia.
Insertion:
• Fibers pass obliquely upward, forward and medially to be inserted in:
• Lower 6 ribs and its costal margin.
• Pubic crest and pectineal line.
• Along costal margin to xiphoid process then into the linea alba.
3- Transversus Abdominis
Origin:From lateral ⅓ of upper surface of inguinal ligament.
• From lower 6 ribs.
• From lateral edge of lumbar fascia.
Insertion: It forms the conjoint tendon by fusion with the internal oblique muscles, also, it
inserts into the middle area of linea alba.

4- Rectus Abdominis
Origin: From the pubic crest and anterior pubic ligament.
Insertion: Into 5th, 6th and 7th costal cartilages along a horizontal line in front of these 3
costal cartilages.
Nerve supply of anterior abdominal muscles: By lower 6 thoracic and 1st lumbar nerves.

II-Muscles of the posterior abdominal wall

1- Psoas Major Muscle
Origin: From the sides and bodies of the transverse processes of all lumbar vertebrae and
intervertebral discs of T12, L1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 tendinous arches on the sides of lumbar
vertebrae.
Insertion: The muscle descends along the brim of pelvis medial to iliacus where both
muscles joint together to form the iliopsoas muscle which pass deep to inguinal ligament to
be inserted into the lesser trochanter of femur.
Nerve supply: From anterior primary rami of L2, 3 & 4.
Action:
• Flexion and medial rotation of hip joint.
• Flexion of trunk forwards as in sitting from lying.

2- Iliacus Muscle
Origin: From upper ⅔ of iliac fossa of the hip bone.
Insertion: It inserts with psoas major tendon into the lesser trochanter of femur.
Nerve supply: Femoral nerve.
Action: Acts with psoas major as a main flexors of the hip joint
3- Quadratus Lumborum Muscle
Origin: From ilio-Iumbar ligament, iliac crest and occasionally from upper borders of
transverse process of lower 3 or 4 lumbar vertebrae.
Insertion: To inferior border of last rib and transverse process of upper 4 lumbar vertebrae.
Nerve supply: Lumbar plexus T12 and L1,2,3.
Action:
• Unilaterally: Lateral flexion of lumbar vertebrae and depressing of last rib.
• Bilaterally: Fix last 2 ribs, acting together with diaphragm in inspiration.

III-Hip Extensors
Gluteus Maximus Muscle
Origin:
• From the gluteal surface of ilium behind the posterior gluteal line.
• From back of sacrum.
• From back of sacrotuberous ligament.
Insertion:
• Its superficial ¾ inserted into the posterior border of iliotibial tract.
• Its deep¼ inserted into the gluteal tuberosity.
Nerve supply: Inferior gluteal nerve.
Action: It is the main extensors of the hip joint.

IV-Back Extensors: Sacrospinalis or Erectro Spinae Muscle

Origin: From the back of the sacrum, dorsal segment of iliac crest, spines of all lumbar and
last two thoracic vertebrae.
Insertion: Into the angles of ribs, transverse processes of lumbar
and thoracic vertebrae and spines of upper thoracic vertebrae.
Nerve supply: Posterior primary rami of spinal nerves.
Action: It is the main extensor of vertebral column.
 Pelvic rocking exercises
Performed from the following position:
• Crock, supine, creeping, kneeling, sitting and standing against the wall.

1- Upward backward pelvic rocking exercise "posterior pelvic tilting".

A) From Crock lying position.

Position of therapist: Stride standing at the level of woman's pelvis.
Grasp: Thumbs of the therapist on the anterior superior iliac spines and fingers fanning
laterally around the pelvis .
Command: Contract glutei, abdominal muscles and press lumbar region down, hold then re
N.B.: It is important to perform the exercise correctly, if the woman find difficulty in
performing the exercise, so ask her to raise the pelvis up slightly which leads to indirect
contraction of the glutei, then contract abdominal muscles.

B) From creeping position:

We must take care that in this position the:
• Back parallel to the ceiling.
• 90° between arms & trunk, trunk & thighs, thighs & legs, and legs & ankles.
• Feet outside the plinth or mat.
• There is extension of cervical region.
• Eyes look forward.
Then ask the woman to :
• Contract glutei, abdominal muscles and try to make her back as a hump, hold then
relax
C) From standing against wall :
• There must be a foot distance between the feet of the woman and supports
the back against the wall.
• Then woman grasps by her hands "thumbs" the anterior superior iliac spines and
"other fingers" the pelvis, then contract glutei, abdominal muscles and press lumbar
region against the wall, hold then relax.

2- Downward forward pelvic rocking exercise “Anterior pelvic tilting".

A) From crock lying position:
Try to make a tunnel between lumbar region and floor through contracting back extensors
and hip flexors, hold then relax.
N.B.
• The therapist passes the hand through this tunnel in supination position to make
stimulation for the back muscles and ask the woman not to touch my hand by her
back.
• The pelvis of the woman should be in a good contact with the plinth to prevent hip
extensors from coming into action.

B)From creeping position:

Therapist asks the woman to increase the lumbar curvature through contracting back
extensors and hip flexors, Hold then relax

From standing against wall

• There must be a slight distance between the feet of the woman and supports the
back against the wall. Try to make a tunnel between lumber region and wall through
contracting back extensors and hip flexors, Hold then relax.
Values of Pelvic Rocking Exercise:
• To improve posture and minimize postural problems.
• To strength abdominal muscles.
• To mobilize lumbar region.
• To prevent backache.
• To decrease the angle of pelvic inclination during labour and make the axis of the
foetus corresponds to the axis of mother's pelvis which leads to easy passage of the
foetus.