Lengthening stride contributes to which dissociation between pelvis and trunk?

• A. Pelvic-trunk dissociation
• B. Neck-trunk adhesion
• C. Complete limb synchrony
• D. Pelvic-block stabilization

Answer: (A)

Lengthening the stride relies on the pelvis moving more independently from the upper trunk. To take a longer step, the pelvis must rotate and advance relative to the trunk while the trunk stays relatively stable to maintain balance. This separation of pelvic motion from trunk motion is pelvic-trunk dissociation. In a hippotherapy context, the horse’s rhythmic movement helps the rider experience and develop that independent pelvic movement while keeping the trunk controlled, which is what improves stride length and overall gait efficiency. The other ideas describe different relationships—head moving with the trunk, limbs moving in lockstep, or an unrelated stabilization concept—not the way a longer stride is achieved through separating pelvis from trunk movement.