SI Joint Struggles
If
you experience lower back pain, a painful SI joint might by the cause of the
issue. But what exactly is the SI joint?
SI
is short for sacroliliac, which refers to the connection of the sacrum and the
right and left iliac bones. The sacrum is at the lower portion of the spine and
the iliac bones help make up the pelvis, so the SI joints connect the spine to
the pelvis. Generally there is not much motion at these joints, but there can
be large amounts of stress placed on them. This can lead to wearing of the
cartilage at the SI joints and potentially be responsible for the mechanical
low back pain you may be experiencing.
There
may be other symptoms than low back pain that accompany SI joint dysfunction.
For example, pain may also be experienced in the buttocks. It may only exist on
one side of the body as well. Pain can radiate all the way down the leg, or it
may radiate into the groin area. These symptoms may make it difficult to sit,
especially in a flat chair.
Many
factors can cause SI joint pain. Pregnancy is one of the well-known causes for
women with SI joint dysfunction. Individuals who have one leg shorter than the
other may also be at a higher risk for this pain due to the abnormal alignment of bones and joints.
Arthritis and injury to the joints are two other contributing factors to SI
joint pain. Although this type of pain may result from various occurrences,
sometimes there simply is no explanation for the dysfunction.
Whatever
the cause of pain may be, it is beneficial to get it treated. Treatment may be
surgical or nonsurgical, depending on the degree of the dysfunction at the
joint, and rehabilitation should occur. If the joint is limited, therapists
will likely work to provide more motion in the area to provide relief and
improve flexibility. On the other hand, if the joint has too much mobility, you
probably need more help stabilizing it.
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