The human body never ceases to amaze us, and we find out new things about it every single day. There are so many different parts of the body, and each of them has a unique and important role to play. There are so many things we never knew about our bodies, and sometimes we take them for granted. It’s important to understand more about the body and how it works, as well as the different roles each body part plays.
The pelvis is one of the most overlooked parts of the body – most associated with Elvis Presley and his hip swinging. The pelvis is basically the lower abdominal area and functions as a way of protecting the organs in the body used for reproduction and digestion. Let’s have a look at some of the essential things we need to know about the pelvis.
It’s crucial for walking
Walking is simple, right – you just need to put one foot in front of the other, and your body moves, right? Well, yes, but there’s a bit more to it than that. You probably didn’t know that your pelvis is actually a crucial body part when it comes to walking. It acts as a solid foundation for the spinal column, and the legs – and, if you damage it you will certainly know about it. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that walking is something solely attributed to the legs.
The female pelvis is larger
Interestingly, the female pelvis actually starts off larger than the male pelvis. They tend to be wider and larger, and this is thought to be to do with the fact that it makes them more suitable for childbirth. But, as women age, their pelvis begins to narrow and get slightly smaller, shifting when they reach the age that is biologically unaccustomed to bearing children. Historically, the pelvis has changed and evolved throughout history and is a key part of the development of the human body.
Pregnancy changes the pelvis
As you might imagine, pregnancy changes the pelvis and affects the body in many different ways. What happens is that the joints in the pelvic bone actually loosen slightly, and this is as a result of the hormone relaxin, which the body secretes. If they loosen too much this can cause the pelvis to become very painful – a condition known as symphysis pubis dysfunction. This necessitates the wearing of a pelvic belt, however, the condition rectifies itself once the pregnancy process is over.
It’s vulnerable
There are a lot of accidents that take place in the world, and many of these involve damage to the pelvic bone. Apparently, close to 10 percent of all blunt trauma injuries involves the pelvis! Things like falls, traffic collisions, and biking accidents can all regularly result in injury to the pelvis. The pelvic bone can fracture or dislocate, which can be incredibly painful, as well as debilitating. The pelvis can be very vulnerable, so it’s really important to look after it and try to protect it as much as possible.
There are so many reasons that the pelvis plays an important role in the human body, and, as you’ve seen, it is a vulnerable part of the body. Because the pelvis is essential for walking and plays a role in pregnancy, we need to make sure we look after our pelvises as much as we possibly can.
