International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) Practice Test 2025 - Free CPT Practice Questions and Study Guide

A characteristic of lordosis is a forward pelvic tilt. Lordosis refers to the inward curvature of the lumbar region of the spine, which normally occurs to maintain balance and alignment. When someone has lordosis, the pelvis tilts forward, increasing the curve in the lower back. This forward tilt changes the distribution of weight and can affect overall posture, contributing to a characteristic "swayback" appearance.

In contrast, spinal compression relates more to the degeneration or damage of the spinal discs and vertebrae rather than the curvature itself. An exaggerated thoracic curve refers to kyphosis, which is an increase in the upper back’s curve rather than the lumbar region. Pelvic retroversion is a backward tilt of the pelvis that typically reduces the lumbar curve and is not associated with lordosis, which emphasizes a forward tilt. Thus, the forward pelvic tilt is the defining characteristic of lordosis.