General overview

The impact of FHL on the spine has been very well described by Howard Dananberg, cited here in reference. The blockage in the sagittal plane results in an increased bending moment with a tilting of the pelvis forward (anterior pelvic tilt) which projects the upper body forward. In order to be corrected, this imbalance requires additional effort on the part of the lumbar muscles (trunk erectors) to prevent the front fall of the upper body. To picture this phenomenon, imagine seeing a person walking with diving fins on their feet: we can thus understand the lever arm increased by the lengthening of the foot and the forced tilting of the pelvis when the step is taken. Therapeutic care involves a comprehensive approach, work on muscle chains but also specific work on FHL and balance.