My client, Mare, suffered for years with painful limitations from pelvic scarring and adhesions. My treatment program yielded marked improvement; and ultimately we reduced her treatment sessions to only a few times per year. In fact, she was doing so well, she decided to resume her old favorite pastime of horseback riding!
Mare said, “I had so much limitation from my scars and adhesions that I never imagined I’d be riding again.
After her first few rides, however, she noticed that her central abdominal muscles did not seem to be as sore as the rest of her muscles. She knew something wasn’t working correctly and scheduled a visit for my help. I felt the lines of tension to her pelvis and hip joints especially the left. Sure enough, old pelvic scarring was preventing normal hip and pelvic range of motion. So instead of the bones moving separately, as they should, they were moving as one piece. Her central abdominal muscles from lower ribs to pubic bone could not engage properly because of adhesions restricting the pelvis from tipping upward. It is a good thing that Mare noticed her abdominals were not working as expected. Her inner thigh muscles and associated pelvic muscle groups, which help maintain her in the saddle, were not engaging properly. This compromised Mare’s security and balance.
The pelvis holds our center of gravity and transmits forces of motion from our limbs to and from the ground. The pelvis is like a transportation station that distributes most of the body’s movement through the spring-like “S” curve of our vertebrae, and the jelly-filled cushions between them. The lower five sacral vertebrae are fused and insert into a complex joint. Extensive wrapping of various muscles and tissues around the bones allow the pelvis to absorb and stabilize are movement. This stabilization contributes to our overall functional balance and agility for activities such as horse back riding.
The stabilizing role of the pelvis can be compromised by surgery, injuries, scarring, adhesions, repetitive movements, and hours of desk or computer work. When the pelvis cannot move properly, as in Mare’s case, muscles compensate and adapt through unnatural movement patterns. Eventually over time, scars and adhesions restrict tissues and joint cartilage which can lead to arthritis.
Treatment Strategy
I let the body guide my treatments rather than following predetermined protocols. I started to release her hip capsules to get the head of the thigh bones moving freely in their sockets. When possible, I work paired organs and bones to balance both sides of the body.
There is usually a visceral component to many dysfunctions! Mare not only had restriction in her hips and pelvis but in her digestive organs as well. These abdominal organs can also be bound down by scarring and adhesions. The large intestine is very close to the hip joints, and attached with strong fibers called ligaments. Freeing the tissues in and around Mare’s pelvis actually improved pelvic mobility and digestive health. With better digestion she could absorb nutrients more efficiently as well as stay more safely on the horse.
Now Mare claims to be feeling much better, and is more confident in her riding. Without treatment for her scars and adhesions, Mare says she would never have considered riding horses again. She didn’t have the fluidity of movement or range of motion. Mare claims she feels twenty years younger than she did when starting treatment. She is tuned into her body and notices when something is not right, seeking help, as she did in this case.
