See a pelvic rotation? Check out the tensor fascia latae.

Hello all!

I have made an interesting discovery lately with two of my students. I thought others might have had similar experiences, and I would love to hear more about what you think!

I work with one gal that has a clockwise pelvic rotation. She has a history of left knee pain and burning along the peroneal nerve on the same side. In addition, her left femur is medially rotated. She believes that some or all of this may be attributed to a ski accident over 20 years ago.

At any rate, over the last month, we (she and I) have made an interesting discovery. It seems that most of the rotation and pain in that leg is due to the fact that she constantly grips her left TFL (tensor fascia latae) and possibly iliacus.

So, we discovered that whilst pushing out in from the bar in footwork she grips in her hip (thus medially rotating her hip and causing the clockwise rotation) instead of using her adductors or quadriceps on that leg. It is really interesting. Even when lying supine with her knees bent and a fitness circle or ball between her knees, she uses these muscles instead of her adductors! As soon as she stops doing it, her pelvis looks symmetrical.

Then, I realized that I had another student that was doing the same thing, and believe it or not, the same results occured. It is really exciting.

I would love to hear if anyone else has had a similar experience.

Leslie