What it means
The pelvis rotated back with a flattened low back and a tucked buttock.
Where it comes from
Short hamstrings and abdominals with weak back extensors.
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 0°. 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 0° | Within normal range |
| 0–5° | Mild posterior tilt |
| 5–10° | Moderate posterior tilt |
| 10° and above | Severe posterior tilt |
Source of the bands: Herrington L, Man Ther 2011;16:646-8
What is usually seen alongside it
- Sway back (Lumbar lordosis) — below 20°
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
Hamstring shortness with weak back extensors; the popliteal angle test.
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 posterior pelvic tilt reported?
When pelvis tipped forward or back (sagittal pelvic tilt) is above 0°, it is reported as a finding. That is where the "Mild posterior tilt" band begins. The bands come from: Herrington L, Man Ther 2011;16:646-8
Can posterior 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. Hamstring shortness with weak back extensors; the popliteal angle test.
What is the most severe grade?
The worst band in this table is "Severe posterior tilt". The grade is printed beside the measurement itself in the report, so it is always clear which number produced the word.