Chiropractic Treatment Best Option For Sacroiliac Joint Pain

Sacroiliac Joint Pain Is Quite High In San Diego Area

The true prevalence of sacroiliac joint pain is unknown and despite a plethora of clinical tests, none of these tests has been validated against an established criterion standard. Patients with sacroiliac joint pain are usually neurologically intact, and the methods used to test the sacroiliac joint lack scientific validity. A number of non-interventional treatment options for sacroiliac joint pain exist, and most patients with sacroiliac joint pain are managed conservatively with a combination of oral medications, physical therapy, and manual therapy.

A number of non-interventional treatment options for sacroiliac joint pain exist, and most patients with sacroiliac joint pain are managed conservatively with a combination of oral medications, physical therapy, and manual therapy.

Sacroiliac joint pain can be difficult to tell apart from lower back pain as there is no one telltale sign distinguishing it from other pain conditions. Some common causes of sacroiliac joint pain are muscle tightness, pregnancy, types of arthritis, and the wearing away of the cartilage between the bones.

What Is Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction?

Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction is a common cause of low back pain. Other terms for this condition include sacroiliitis, SI joint inflammation, SI joint syndrome, and SI joint strain.

This condition can make it hard for you to do daily activities, such as sitting, standing, walking, and even sleeping.

In fact, the sacroiliac joints are the primary source of pain in 5% to 10% of all patients with low back pain.¹ But many patients with SI joint pain spend months—even years—without a correct diagnosis.

That’s because sacroiliac joint dysfunction is sometimes difficult to diagnose. Since the SI joints are so close to your hip bones and lumbar spine (low back), it’s common for SI joint dysfunction to be mistaken for other causes of low back pain, such as a herniated or bulging disc. Read more.

Sacroiliac Joint Pain can occur acutely due to a fall, lifting and twisting the wrong way, or from increased repetitive load through the joints. Excessive stress on the joint capsule causes microscopic damage to the ligaments surrounding the joint. The joint then becomes inflamed and painful.

Why Your SI Joint Is Such a Pain

The sacroiliac joint can get really beaten up in some people, leading to pain and injury. We call this joint the SIJ for short, and it’s basically where your sacrum and pelvis come together.

 

Anyone who has suffered from SIJ pain knows that it can be a real pain – in the back, in the hip, and even down the leg. It can make day-to-day activities such as rolling over or getting in and out of a car difficult, and it can lead to pain while training if you’re not in tune with how to exercise properly without further injuring your SIJ.

How Important Is the SIJ, Really?

A fantastic study completed by Dr. Stuart McGill looked at the forces transmitted to the SIJ during a 27kg squat. He found the total force transmitted to this SIJ during this activity was 6.5 kN – which is enough to lift a small car off of the ground! Read the full article here.

Many patients with SI joint pain tend to think they either have sciatica or tailbone pain. Although it can resemble other conditions, SI joint dysfunction is a distinct condition of its own. Your chiropractor needs to use keen diagnostic skills to diagnose the SI joints as the source of your pain.

There is a clear need for more properly constructed comparative studies to establish whether chronic sacroiliac joint pain can be better managed with invasive pain relieving techniques than conventional conservative therapies.

Chiropractic Procedures for the Sacroiliac Joint

Chiropractic Adjustment for Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

Chiropractic adjustment (spinal manipulation) of the sacroiliac joint is usually accomplished with the patient lying down on his or her side. Specifically:

1. The top knee is flexed (bent) and then raised toward the patient’s chest
2. The bottom shoulder is positioned forward, producing a stretch in the low back and pelvic region
3. The chiropractor’s contact hand is placed over the sacroiliac joint and pressure is applied while the patient’s upper shoulder is tractioned (pushed to create tension) backward and the knee is tractioned towards the floor.
4. When the slack is removed from the lumbar spine, and the pre-manipulation position is determined to be comfortable, high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust is applied by the chiropractor.

The thrust in this type of adjustment usually results in an audible release, called cavitation, which is created by oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide escaping from the joint when the joint is pushed past its passive range of motion but well within the tissue boundaries. See more here.

Can You Stop SI Problems Before They Happen?

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” said the wise Ben Franklin. Your chiropractor suggests a couple of simple ways to minimize your chances of developing this painful problem.

Keep your body in good physical condition. This helps prevent many problems related to joints, muscles, and bones. The second piece of advice is to shed excess pounds. Too much body weight places pressure on the joints and increases the possibility of damage.

If you show symptoms of sacroiliac pain, it’s important to see a Doctor of Chiropractic so he or she can perform tests to correctly diagnose your condition. It could very well be another type of lower back problem. So quit suffering and give us a call (619) 831-8777!

For more related article about chiropractic treatment visit:  http://www.chiropractorsandiegomissionvalley.com/chiropractic-treatment/

 

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