What is the sacroiliac joint, and what does it do?
The sacroiliac, or "SI", joints (there is one on each side of the
body) are the link between your spinal column and pelvis. They help absorb
damaging shock forces, and they also help stabilize the body and transmit weight
to the lower limbs. SI joints normally have some amount of movement, and they
can move in several planes of motion. SI dysfunction is actually a separate
condition from low back pain; however, SI joint dysfunction has been implicated
as a common cause of back pain in more than 30 percent of children.1 What's
more, it may even be a contributing factor to tension and pain in the jaw
muscles and joints.2
Return to top
What causes SI joint pain?
Two separate and distinct categories of SI dysfunction exist: primary, which
occurs suddenly due to trauma, lifting, slipping, or sudden, unexpected
movements; and secondary, which is caused by faulty posture aggravated by
occupation or habits. Pressure can build up on the SI joint(s) for years before
any obvious discomfort is noticed.
Return to top
How do I know if what I have is SI joint pain?
Only a qualified health care professional can locate the source or sources of
the discomfort you are experiencing. Usually, your healthcare professional will
ask you several questions about the location and intensity of your pain, whether
the pain seems to spread to other parts of the body (thigh, buttock, groin, leg,
foot, etc.), if it causes you to limp, if it hurts to turn over in bed or get up
from a chair, etc. Postural evaluation, joint examination, and diagnostic
testing are common techniques many healthcare professional use to help them
determine whether or not you are experiencing a true dysfunction of the SI
joint.
Return to top
If both of my SI joints are doing the same work every
day, why does one hurt and not the other?
If traumatic injury (a fall, car accident, sports injury, etc.) has been
ruled out in your case, and the pain seems to lessen when you're lying down and
not moving, a postural imbalance might be contributing to your condition. There
may be an imbalance in your feet, or your legs may be unequal in length just
enough to be causing stress or strain to your SI joints. Your healthcare
professional can determine whether your condition is being affected by a pedal
imbalance or leg length inequality (LLI).
Return to top
How can my healthcare professional help me to get
better?
Depending on the diagnosis of your condition, your healthcare professional
has treatment programs to help relieve your pain, stabilize your posture, and
restore normal function to your SI joints. The following are just some of the
treatment areas your healthcare professional might pursue in your case:
