Sacroiliac joint dysfunction and its symptoms can cause low back pain and disorders.

This condition is also known as:

• Sacroiliitis
• SI joint inflammation
• SI joint syndrome
• Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
• SI joint strain

It can make it frustrating, difficult, and unbearable for regular activities like sitting, standing, walking, and sleeping. It has been found in around 30-35% of individuals. Many individuals can spend months or even years dealing with symptoms but are unaware that it’s not the correct diagnosis. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction can sometimes be difficult to diagnose. These joints are so close to the hip and low back that it is common for sacroiliac joint dysfunction to be mistaken for other causes/conditions of low back pain, like a herniated, slipped, or bulging disc.

Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction Symptoms

When low back pain is present, it can be difficult for a doctor to figure out the exact source/cause of your pain.

These are a few recognizable symptoms of sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

• Low back pain is the most common.
• Pain could also present in the hips, buttocks, thighs, and possibly the groin area.
• The pain can be so severe that just touching the area is unbearable.

Other activities that can cause symptoms:

Common movements like climbing stairs and sitting down/getting up from a seat can cause pain. Pain can also be aggravated by standing or walking for extended periods but improve when relaxed or lying down. Stiffness or a burning sensation in the pelvis can also present.

Causes of Joint Dysfunction

A variety of conditions can cause sacroiliac joint dysfunction. The most common:

Arthritis

• Joint pain can be caused by spinal osteoarthritis because the cartilage around the sacroiliac joint wears down.
• The bones can start to rub against each other.
• Ankylosing spondylitis is inflammatory arthritis that affects the spine that can also cause joint dysfunction.

Pregnancy

• Pregnant women can experience low back pain or pelvic pain from sacroiliac dysfunction because the joints get stretched and lose their elasticity during pregnancy.
• Hormone changes and added weight during pregnancy can place added stress on the sacroiliac joints.

Accident Trauma

• The high impact from an auto accident, slip and fall injury, or sports injury could damage the sacroiliac joint/s.

Viral Infection

• Infections are extremely rare but could be another cause of joint pain.
• There are a variety of treatment options that can help reduce and prevent low back pain.

Exercise/Physical Therapy

Exercise and physical therapy are therapies that doctors highly recommend before other treatments like pain medications or surgery. Exercise, chiropractic, and physical therapy can help manage pain and other symptoms. Consult your doctor before starting any physical therapy or exercise program. Your doctor can recommend a chiropractor or therapist that can help get you started with the proper exercise treatment plan.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy can help reduce stress on the joints that are strained and tight. It also helps maintain joint flexibility. A physical therapist will perform passive and active treatment therapies to help manage joint pain.

• Passive treatments – the physical therapist does the majority of the work. An example of passive treatment applying heat or ice along with massaging the area.
• Active treatments – the patient participates in the treatment with at-home exercise routines is an example of active treatment.

A combination of passive and active treatment provides the best outcomes and offers the most benefits, as the patient has the know-how of proper posture, exercises that they can do, and injury prevention. A chiropractor and physical therapist can build a physical therapy program to help address your symptoms.

Exercise

With sacroiliac joint dysfunction, you do not have to do hard, intense exercise. The benefits come from a consistent gentle exercise routine with an emphasis on consistency. Exercising stretches and strengthens muscles of the low back muscles and helps maintain joint flexibility. An overall exercise plan should incorporate the three main types:

• Aerobic workout
• Stretching
• Strengthening

There are a variety of gentle exercises and stretches to help decrease pain. Adding exercise and physical therapy to the treatment plan can significantly help you manage and reduce pain symptoms.

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NCBI Resources

Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is known to cause low back pain, but diagnosing it can be hard for some doctors. Especially those that do not have a great deal of experience in sacroiliac joint pain. However, chiropractors specialize in this area as the SI joint is an important musculoskeletal system part.