The Foot Bone Is Connected to the Pelvis?

‘The Skeleton Dance’ Song:’

‘dem dancing bones’

‘The foot bone’s connected to the leg bone’

‘The leg bone’s connected to the knee bone…’

‘The thigh bone’s connected to the hip bone…’and so on up the skeletal chain to the neck.

Although written as a lively dance song, ‘The Skeleton Dance’ lyrics are accurate when it comes to problems in the pelvic girdle and pelvic floor muscles. Simply put, postural changes in the foot and knee can cause positional changes in the hip. These changes are translated from the hip to the pelvis via the muscles and ligaments that stretch between the two bones, creating an imbalance in posture. As well, the obturator internus muscle which runs from the hip and meshes with the deep pelvic floor muscles can change the length and thus the biomechanical performance of the pelvic floor muscles.  

Moving from the neck down, poor posture of the spine can create changes down the skeletal chain to the pelvis.  Overworked (short) abdominal or back muscles or conversely weak (long) abdominal and back muscles, as well as scarring from abdominal surgeries, can also create altered positional changes in the skeleton of the pelvis and thus the pelvic floor muscles. These pelvic muscles control urinary and fecal continence and assist in holding the pelvic organs in their anatomical position. Pelvic and low back pain can also be your body’s response to changes in the pelvic girdle skeleton and muscles. 

If you find yourself dealing with problems in the pelvic girdle, book an assessment with a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist, such as myself, and dance ‘The Skeleton Song’. 

Patricia is a physiotherapist at the Human Performance Centre. She has an interest in pelvic floor problems. You can contact her at 738-8299