Lordosis

Lordosis is the natural inward curve of the lumbar and cervical spine, and lumbar hyperlordosis refers to an exaggerated version of that curve that can alter how the lower back loads and contribute to pain.

What lordosis means for your lower back and pelvis

The lumbar spine — your lower back — has a normal inward curve that helps distribute the load of your body weight efficiently across the vertebrae and discs. When that curve becomes exaggerated, the lower back arches more than it should, the pelvis tilts forward, and the hip flexors tend to become tight while the abdominals and glutes become relatively underactive. This altered alignment increases compressive stress on the posterior elements of the lumbar spine — the facet joints and the back portions of the intervertebral discs — which can contribute to low back aching, stiffness after periods of standing, and pain that worsens with extension-based movements like walking downhill or standing for long periods. Hyperlordosis is often associated with prolonged sitting, weakness through the posterior chain, and hip flexor tightness that developed gradually over time.

Why lumbar lordosis pain is often treated generically

Low back pain associated with hyperlordosis is frequently addressed with general core strengthening or stretching without specifically targeting the anterior pelvic tilt and muscle imbalances that drive it. The exercises that help are specific — and the ones that seem logical, like lower back stretches, sometimes reinforce the problem rather than correcting it.

Why generic core work doesn't always fix it

Sit-ups and crunches strengthen the rectus abdominis but don't necessarily address the anterior pelvic tilt or the underactive glutes and deep stabilizers that contribute to lumbar hyperlordosis. A physical therapist can assess your specific alignment and design a program that targets the right muscles in the right way.

How Sword Health can help

A physical therapist can assess your lumbar curve, identify the muscle imbalances behind it, and build a targeted program that addresses lordosis-related back pain at the source. Sword makes that specialist-level care available from home, on a schedule that fits your life.