What it means
The front of the pelvis lower than the back, with a deeper lumbar curve and the belly pushed forward.
Where it comes from
Prolonged sitting shortening the hip flexors and switching off glutes and transversus.
How it is measured
It is measured on the side view, in the sagittal plane. The defining measurement is Pelvis tipped forward or back (Sagittal pelvic tilt), and it is reported as a finding from above 15°. The number is computed from landmarks on that photograph — not estimated by eye, and not compared against a stock example.
What the numbers mean
| Measurement | Grade |
|---|---|
| up to 15° | Within normal range |
| 15–20° | Mild anterior tilt |
| 20–25° | Moderate anterior tilt |
| 25° and above | Severe anterior tilt |
Source of the bands: Herrington L, Man Ther 2011;16:646-8 (mean anterior tilt ~7° men, ~10° women)
What is usually seen alongside it
- Sway back (Lumbar lordosis) — above 45°
None of these is a diagnosis on its own. Together they corroborate the finding; apart, they do not refute it — a measurement nobody took counts neither for nor against.
What confirms it
The Thomas test, for iliopsoas and rectus femoris shortness.
Every number on this page is measured on the skin surface in a photograph. That is not the same as a measurement taken on a radiograph: it correlates with one and does not replace it. Wherever the decision depends on imaging, this page and the report itself say so.
What happens at the clinic
The assessment starts with three standing photographs — front, side and back. Every angle is measured on those photographs, the report prints the number and the grade for each, and the exercise programme is built from those numbers rather than from a template. Posture analysis explains the whole path, and the online assessment can be started from your own photograph now.
Frequently asked questions
At what point is anterior pelvic tilt reported?
When pelvis tipped forward or back (sagittal pelvic tilt) is above 15°, it is reported as a finding. That is where the "Mild anterior tilt" band begins. The bands come from: Herrington L, Man Ther 2011;16:646-8 (mean anterior tilt ~7° men, ~10° women)
Can anterior pelvic tilt be assessed from a photograph?
A photograph gives a number, which most assessments do not have. But it is a surface measurement and it does not replace imaging. The Thomas test, for iliopsoas and rectus femoris shortness.
What is the most severe grade?
The worst band in this table is "Severe anterior tilt". The grade is printed beside the measurement itself in the report, so it is always clear which number produced the word.