If you have been to see anyone for lower back pain in the past you may have discussed the possibility of having sacro-iliac joint dysfunction.
The sacroiliac joint is made up of your sacrum and iliac bones. Your sacrum is a triangle shaped bone at the base of your spine, which connects to your left and right ilia bones of your pelvis. This joint has limited range of movement but can often become unstable through trauma or biomechanical change causing excessive movement leading to pain and dysfunction.
Sacroiliac (SI) dysfunction is common in both men and women, however it tends to be predominant in women. This is most likely due to alternations in hormone levels during pregnancy. A hormone called relaxin is released and this can cause ligament laxity, which reduces closure at the joint and causes excess movement.
Pain in the Sacro-iliac joint may be caused for several different reasons:
- Pain referral secondary to a lumbar spine, pelvis, hip or pubic symphysis dysfunction
- Asymmetric stress and biomechanical abnormalities
- Trauma to the lumbar spine, hip or lower extremity e.g. poor lifting technique
- Can be iatrogenic – following spine or hip surgery
- Muscle, ligament and fascia imbalance
- Capsular ligaments become lax, and can cause inflammation
- Degenerative joint changes can begin to occur in chronic SI dysfunction leading to reduced movement and stiffness
Some of the signs and symptoms that you may experience if you do have a sacroiliac dysfunction are:
- Pain/tenderness in the PSIS or sacral sulcus region at the bottom of your spine
- Gluteal or groin pain
- Symptoms that are aggravated by walking, transitional motion, pivoting and impact activities
- Pain that is worse in the morning and resolves with exercise
- Pelvic asymmetry
- Leg length discrepancies
Treatment for sacroiliac pain can be managed through the following:
- Education about correct posture and lifting techniques
- Muscle strengthening
- Physical therapy – Osteopathy
- Heat
- NSAIDS
- Muscle relaxants
- Surgical intervention