Get it checked at Bodyline Health, Lower Plenty
We see patients from across the Diamond Valley, including Eltham, Greensborough, Montmorency, Rosanna and Heidelberg. No referral needed, free parking, onsite X-ray when clinically indicated and HICAPS claiming on the spot.
Written by Dr Phillip Mifsud, Chiropractor & Exercise Physiologist and founder of Bodyline Health, Lower Plenty. Based on Dr Phil’s own video and clinical experience.
Watch the video
Pelvis Stability
Dr Phil explains this in under two minutes.
What is pelvic instability?
Pelvic instability is a general term for pain around the pelvis, hips and lower back that comes from the pelvis not being held evenly. Often the pelvis is slightly twisted, which throws the surrounding muscles out of balance.
Why is pain that moves a good sign?
Dr Phil actually likes it when a patient’s pain moves around. Pain that shifts from one spot to another usually shows it is not an injury. It is imbalance: your body trying, and struggling, to find balance. That is generally something that can be fixed relatively simply.
What are the signs of pelvic instability?
- Pelvic, hip or lower back pain that changes location
- Pain you cannot stretch out or work through
- Difficulty getting comfortable at night, needing to roll over often
- Soreness with repetitive movements such as walking, stairs or getting in and out of the car
How is it treated?
Hands-on treatment
Deep soft tissue massage through the hips and glutes, and treatment to rebalance the pelvis.
Specific stretches
Targeted stretches for the muscles that have tightened up to compensate.
Single-leg stability exercises
The real fix is getting the muscles that stabilise the pelvis, especially the gluteal muscles (glute medius), working properly again. Dr Phil favours simple single-leg exercises, alternating left and right, and heel-lift style movements that make you focus on using those pelvic muscles.
Who at Bodyline Health can help with pelvic instability?
Because Bodyline Health has several disciplines under one roof at 17 Main Road, Lower Plenty, your care can be shared between practitioners who talk to each other.
- Dr Phillip Mifsud (Chiropractor and Exercise Physiologist): diagnosis, pelvic rebalancing and a single-leg exercise plan.
- Keryn Arrowsmith (Myotherapist): deep tissue work through the hips and glutes.
- Mary Fleming (Physiotherapist): progressive stability and strength training.
- Ceyda Hart and Lara Kolar (Podiatrists): checking whether foot mechanics are contributing.
When to seek urgent medical help
Seek urgent care for back or pelvic pain with fever, unexplained weight loss, numbness around the groin, or new bladder or bowel problems. In pregnancy, pelvic pain with bleeding or cramping needs urgent medical review.
Further reading on pelvic instability: Low back pain (Healthdirect Australia).
Common questions
What does pelvic instability feel like?
Aching around the pelvis, hips or lower back that tends to move around, is hard to stretch out and often makes sleeping uncomfortable.
Why does my back pain move around?
Moving pain usually signals muscular imbalance rather than a structural injury, often from a slightly twisted pelvis.
What exercises help pelvic instability?
Single-leg exercises that alternate sides and movements that make you focus on your glute muscles, which stabilise the pelvis.
Is pelvic instability easy to fix?
It is usually one of the more straightforward problems to fix, with a combination of hands-on treatment, stretches and specific exercises.
Should I get a diagnosis first?
Yes. A proper assessment makes sure the pain is imbalance and not something that needs different treatment.
This article is general information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for individual medical advice. If you are unsure, see your GP or book an assessment.
