Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

Motion at the Sacroiliac Joint – As a bipedal species, walking upright puts extra importance on the sacrum, pelvis, lumbar spine, & the SI joints. During locomotion, fluid interaction within the sacroiliac joint space is imperative so that pain-free movement occurs.

Transferring & Mitigating Forces – Elegant movement is something that our humans excel at when biomechanics are optimized. Performing a cartwheel, throwing a punch, or swinging a baseball bat all require force transfer from the lower extremities to the upper extremities or vice versa.

Examining a baseball batter’s swing in slow motion will reveal the intricate nature of force transfer as energy travels through the leg, into the pelvis, up through the core, into the arms, and finally the wrists before entering the actual bat for contact. Leakage at any joint will result in pain or dysfunction, especially at one of the SI joints.

Differential Diagnosis – Biomechanic Complexity – You can think of the lumbar spine, pelvis, sacrum, and hip as a functional unit. They work closely with each other to execute a specific movement which can make it difficult to nail down which is the main causative factor in your pain presentation. Pain directly at the SI joint when the hip is flexed or extended and any pain referral that does not cross the knee can be indicative of SI joint dysfunction.

Most Effective Treatment Options – Chiropractic is extremely effective at treating SI joint dysfunction. Releasing the restricted motion of the sacral base and ilium through a high velocity, low amplitude thrust can reestablish optimal joint biomechanics. This will then allow access to better functional movement patterns discussed shortly.

Other treatment options include physical therapy, massage therapy, active release technique, & PNF stretching.

Functional Movement Patterns – Before engaging in athletic pursuits or physical activity, it is best practice to evaluate your functional movement patterns. Having adequate movement pattern scores without major asymmetries indicates that you are ready to compete or stress your body under load. Any pain when screening your movement patterns must be addressed and then rescreened.

Both SI joints are major choke points for the transfer of forces which is why pain often shows up here. If you have recurrent SI joint pain, then your first stop should be your local chiropractor’s office for a complete evaluation and treatment.