Both our chiropractic and physiotherapy teams use a strategic combination of Trigger Point Therapy and Active Release Therapy (ART) to treat tight hip flexors and the muscle imbalances associated with anterior pelvic tilt.
Trigger point therapy involves applying precise, sustained pressure to tight “knots” within a muscle. These knots restrict blood flow, limit movement, and can refer pain into the low back, hip, or even down the leg. By releasing these areas, we help restore normal muscle tone and reduce tension pulling on the pelvis.
ART takes this a step further. While applying specific tension to the muscle, the practitioner moves the joint to actively shorten and lengthen the tissue. This helps break up adhesions, improve glide between muscle layers, and restore proper movement patterns. It’s controlled, targeted, and highly effective for stubborn hip flexor tightness.
Dr. Steve finds that combining ART and trigger point therapy produces the best results for anterior pelvic tilt. In most cases, ART is performed on the psoas and quadratus lumborum (QL) muscles — two key drivers of pelvic imbalance. Trigger point therapy is often applied to the glutes and deep hip rotator muscles, which commonly become weak, inhibited, or overworked in compensation.
When you release the tight structures and re-activate the right muscles, the pelvis can finally return to a more neutral position — and that’s when patients truly start to feel the difference.
