STOTT Pilates- Postural alignment Questions and
Answers 2025 UPDATE
/What are the four types of postural alignment? - Answer-Ideal, kyphosis-lordosis, flat-
back, sway-back postures
/.What should the cervical spine look like in neutral alignment? - Answer-Normal curve,
slightly convex anteriorly
/.What should the thoracic spine look like in ideal alignment? - Answer-Normal curve,
slightly convex posteriorly
/.What should the lumbar spine look like in ideal alignment? - Answer-Normal curve,
slightly convex anteriorly
/.What muscles are short and strong in the kyphosis-lordosis posture? - Answer-Neck
extensors and hip flexors. Low back is strong and may or may not become short
/.What muscles are elongated or weak in the kyphosis- lordosis posture? - Answer-Neck
flexors, upper back. Erector spinae, external oblique. Hamstrings are slightly elongated
but may or may not be weak.
/.What is the cervical spine like in the sway- back posture? - Answer-Slightly extended
/.What is the thoracic spine like in the sway-back posture? - Answer-Increased flexion
(long kypohosis) with posterior displacement of the upper trunk
/.What is the lumbar spine like in the sway-back posture? - Answer-Flexion, flattening of
the low lumbar area
/.Pelvis position in sway-back posture? - Answer-Posterior Tilt
/.What are hips like in sway-back posture? - Answer-Hyperextended with anterior
displacement of the pelvis
/.What are knee joints like in sway-back posture? - Answer-Hyperextended
/.What are ankle joints like in the sway-back posture? - Answer-Neutral- knee joint
hyperextension usually results in plantar flexion of the ankle joint but that does not occur
here because of anterior deviation of the pelvis and thighs
/.What muscles are short and strong in the sway-back posture? - Answer-Hamstrings,
upper fibres of internal oblique.
Answers 2025 UPDATE
/What are the four types of postural alignment? - Answer-Ideal, kyphosis-lordosis, flat-
back, sway-back postures
/.What should the cervical spine look like in neutral alignment? - Answer-Normal curve,
slightly convex anteriorly
/.What should the thoracic spine look like in ideal alignment? - Answer-Normal curve,
slightly convex posteriorly
/.What should the lumbar spine look like in ideal alignment? - Answer-Normal curve,
slightly convex anteriorly
/.What muscles are short and strong in the kyphosis-lordosis posture? - Answer-Neck
extensors and hip flexors. Low back is strong and may or may not become short
/.What muscles are elongated or weak in the kyphosis- lordosis posture? - Answer-Neck
flexors, upper back. Erector spinae, external oblique. Hamstrings are slightly elongated
but may or may not be weak.
/.What is the cervical spine like in the sway- back posture? - Answer-Slightly extended
/.What is the thoracic spine like in the sway-back posture? - Answer-Increased flexion
(long kypohosis) with posterior displacement of the upper trunk
/.What is the lumbar spine like in the sway-back posture? - Answer-Flexion, flattening of
the low lumbar area
/.Pelvis position in sway-back posture? - Answer-Posterior Tilt
/.What are hips like in sway-back posture? - Answer-Hyperextended with anterior
displacement of the pelvis
/.What are knee joints like in sway-back posture? - Answer-Hyperextended
/.What are ankle joints like in the sway-back posture? - Answer-Neutral- knee joint
hyperextension usually results in plantar flexion of the ankle joint but that does not occur
here because of anterior deviation of the pelvis and thighs
/.What muscles are short and strong in the sway-back posture? - Answer-Hamstrings,
upper fibres of internal oblique.
