How to Fix Uneven Hips for Good

01/12/2023

What’s a Lateral Pelvic Tilt and Why Does it Matter?

Do your hips hurt? What about your low back? Uneven hips, known in the medical community as having a “lateral pelvic tilt,” happen when one hip sits higher than the other one. While some people have a true, diagnosed leg length discrepancy (structural), often hip asymmetry is due to poor posture, body awareness, or mindfulness around how you hold and move your body. While it’s not always the case, uneven hips can also be a sign of scoliosis. Before you think you have scoliosis though (don’t jump to conclusions just yet) be sure to continue reading.

Most people have uneven hips because they function in a way that puts uneven pressure on their pelvis. This is often due to poor posture, lifting incorrectly in the gym, or doing a repetitive motion that doesn’t support proper posture, such as carrying a purse or heavy bag on one shoulder, favoring one leg over the other, or leaning into one hip while standing or sitting. Can you see how fixing your posture is the first step to healthy hips?

How Do Uneven Hips Affect Your Posture?

Uneven hips throw everything off. That pelvis of yours affects your posture, how you walk, how you sit, and how you move. If you have low back pain, this might be a culprit as well. Since the bottom of your spine is the foundation for your sacrum, uneven hips can cause low back pain if your core muscles or spine stabilizing muscles must overcompensate for an imbalance.

You may have a hip hike, when one hip is higher than the other, or a hip drop, when one hip is lower than the other. For you anatomy nerds out there, your pelvis will hip hike if you have a weak glute medius, tight Quadratus Lumborum (QL for short), and tight adductors. Your pelvis will hip drop if you have a tight glute medius, weak QL, and weak adductors.

Alright, So What Should Healthy Hips Look Like?

We’d recommend getting in front of a mirror for this one to check out your posture. Here’s what healthy hips look like: 

  • Your pelvis should be parallel to the ground.

  • Your hips should be in a neutral position (not tilted forward or backwards).

  • Your hips should be level (one shouldn’t be higher than the other).

Take a look at this before and after image to see the differences between uneven hips and healthy hips. The first image was taken before Karly (shown below) started the MoveU Membership and the second image was taken only 90 days after. Wow, right?

Karly Before & After_MoveU

Causes of Uneven Hips

According to the Spine Institute of North America, many people will go through much of their life without noticing a minor hip imbalance although this can worsen if you don’t stretch and strengthen your hips and the muscles that support them. Uneven hips that start to cause pain, affect your ability to function in everyday life, and lead to low back pain as well as more muscular imbalances, well that’s another story. If that’s you, head to our MoveU Membership  to learn how to fix your posture, strengthen your muscles, and, ultimately, reduce the pain you’re experiencing. 

There are many causes of uneven hips (remember everything in your body is interconnected), which include the following: 

  • Scoliosis.

  • Difference in the length of your legs.

  • Poor posture (causes your muscles to shorten).

  • Fallen arches in your feet.

  • Muscular differences.

How to Know if You Have Uneven Hips

If standing in front of a mirror to see if you have uneven hips didn’t quite work for you, try one of these tests: 

Trendelenburg Gait

Stand in front of a mirror or have a friend take a video of you. Lift one leg so your knee and foot are parallel to the floor and hold that pose for 30 seconds. Then repeat this motion on your other leg. If your pelvis tilted downwards instead of upwards on the non-weight bearing leg (or lifted leg), then this could be a sign that there’s a hip abductor weakness, which can result in uneven hips.

Squat Test

For this test, you’re going to want to perform a squat. You’re going to look for hip shifts while doing this. Either squat in front of a mirror or have a friend film you and look at your hips when you come up from the bottom of your squat. You may shift towards your stronger hip, which is a sign that you have a strength imbalance.

Karly Testimonial 2_MoveU

How Do You Fix Uneven Hips Naturally?

To fix your uneven hips naturally, you will want to learn both strength exercises, to help build up weak structures, and stretches, to mobilize tight structures. 

Exercises for Uneven Hips

If you’re hip hiking, you want to do single leg exercises on your weaker side. These exercises might include step ups/step downs on a box, single leg lunges, and single leg balancing movements. Here’s one of our favorite ways to improve hip mobility and strengthen your glute muscles: 

The Clamshell

The Clamshell Exercise

  • Lie down on one side with both legs bent at a 90-degree angle. You can use your arm to support your head and neck.

  • Lift your top knee while keeping your feet together.

  • Hold for 5 seconds and then lower your knee.

  • Repeat for 8-12 repetitions.

  • Be sure not to roll back, keep hips squared.

  • Switch sides.

Stretches for Uneven Hips

Here are some stretches you can do to reduce tightness in the areas that support your hips and pelvis: 

Hamstring stretch 

Hamstring Stretch

  • Lie down on your back with your legs out.

  • Place a strap around your left foot and lift your left leg up towards the ceiling.

  • Pull slightly on the strap until you feel a stretch in your hamstring and hold for about 30 seconds,

  • Switch sides.

90/90 stretch 

  • From seated, bring your right leg in front leg in front of you with your hip externally rotated and your knee bent at 90 degrees. Knee should be directly in front of hip and foot should be perpendicular to knee.

  • Bend your left knee to 90-degrees to the side with your hip internally rotated. Again, knee should be straight out (or even a bit behind) hip and foot should be perpendicular to knee.

  • Square your shoulders over your right leg.

  • To go deeper, lean your chest forward without losing your connection to the floor.

  • Repeat on the other side.

Supine Hip Flexor Stretch

  • Lie down on your back on the right edge of a massage table or bed with both of your legs extended out.

  • Bend your left knee keeping your foot on the table or bed and let your right leg hang off the side of the table/bed.

  • Bend your left knee back as far as you can.

  • To get deeper, grab your left knee and guide it towards your chest.

  • Repeat on the other side.

To fix your hips for good, be sure to head on over to the MoveU Membership to learn how to strengthen your hips and fix uneven hips.

Back to Blogs

MOVEU APP REVIEWS

A 4.9 RATING ON APPLE - DIVE IN!

Back pain managed

In just a few short days on the Back & Core program I saw a meaningful difference. I felt freedom from my back pain related to muscle spasms that I haven't felt in several months.

Nov 9

AWESOME!!

With the revamp of the app, they are constantly working to make it the best version of itself. They take ideas and suggestions seriously.

Oct. 6

Knee pain is fading

I started using MoveU because I had nagging knee pain that bothered me when running, biking, skiing, etc. It was really bumming me out so I decided to try MoveU Knee, Ankle and Foot Program. I am about to finish week 2 and my knees already feel much better!

Nov 6

Comprehensive and engaging

The programs cover how to balace the whole body to minimize (or ward off any future) pain that’s caused by poor alignment. There’s an overall upbeat tone in the videos that makes you want to try your best.

1y ago

Better than physical therapy

MoveU is a great program and worth the subscription. I've used it to supplement my normal weightlifting, cardio, and yoga. The monthly cost is about the same as one or two yoga classes, so it pays for itself. The app is very intuitive and well built. I'm glad to see they put in the up front work, and they are continually involved in the content. If you want to fix your issues at home, this is the best way.

Nov 6

Healing

To all the people that have tried every intervention. To the hopeless and helpless feeling. After all these years of disappointment with the healthcare system, there IS a solution. Dr. Mike and the Moveu Team are dedicated to get you into your healing journey. Not just the physical but also the mental - which is just as important. I love how different this program is from everything else I have ever tried. Love you guys.

1y ago

Excellent Program

This is the fix for the long haul and I preach it to my family and friends. Going to a PT is great but they only work on the area your insurance allows which doesn't always fix the overall issue. Thank you Dr. Mike for creating this!

Nov. 30

Knowledge at your fingertips

Well worth the subscription. I am a chiropractor and I refer to this program for all of my patients. For every diagnosis Dr. Mike and his crew demonstrate an appropriate stretch and/or exercise along with the progression and regression specific to their level of recovery. I highly recommend this app to anyone interested in treating musculoskeletal ailments whether it be your own or your patients. It's one of the few apps purchased that I feel I got my monies worth and more, you won't be dissapointed.

1y ago

I appreciate MoveU

I have a bulging disc and I am very appreciative of this program and the knowledge I have gained on how body mechanics are all connected and what things to do to get better. I also feel the people really care about their members.

Nov 13

Most supportive and effective tool

This app is super easy to use. Love that I always have my videos with my on the go and the support from the coaches and community is invaluable along the way. Working through 4 herniated discs and it's the first program where I'm feeling hopeful and confident!

Feb 12

Loads of content

Great app! So much info to help you get to know your body and help you find your best alignment! Better alignment means less pain and more gain in life! MoveU has it all if you are willing to take responsibility for your own body.

Nov 11

Easy to use and interactive!

The app is clean, concise and very user friendly. On top of that, the coaches are extremely active on the community forum, giving you quick advice on questions you may have. Great interface!

1y ago

It works!

I love this program, and I'm not easily impressed. They know their stuff really well and it's designed in a great way with how it progresses. The core is especially a game changer.

Mar 11

Get out of pain - the ultimate solution!!

I signed up for MoveU because I had this nagging pain for years with absolutely no way of fixing it because no one ever broke it down and showed me how to understand my problem. I love the short classes was well as the deeper live classes. I believe that I'm a lifer and it's one of the most important subscriptions I pay for in my life.

Mar 18

Your very best version just a MoveU away 🙌

All in one app, to realign and reset your whole body. In the most natural, gradual, and far from the invasive way. I have been a walking injury from sports for 30+ years...I never thought I could find an integral solution.

1y ago