If your lower back or bottom hurts when you get up from a chair or climb a set of stairs, your sacroiliac (SI) joints may be to blame. Research suggests the SI joint is the source of pain in 15 to 30 percent of people with chronic low back pain. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is commonly thought of as a source of lower back pain and/or leg pain. Connecting the triangular bone at the bottom of the spine (the sacrum) with the pelvis, the sacroiliac joint may be a source of pain if its normal motion is disturbed. Sometimes, when you feel pain over your sacroiliac joint it is caused by a lumbar disc herniation (sciatica) and they can feel quite similar.
Anatomy of the Sacroiliac Joint
Exactly where is the SI joint? Sacroiliac joints connect the hip bones (iliac crests) to the sacrum, the triangular bone between the lumbar spine, and the tailbone (coccyx). Absorbing shock between the upper body and the pelvis and legs is the primary function of the sacroiliac joints.
The sacroiliac joint typically has little motion. Small movements at the joint help with shock absorption and forward/backward bending. The joint is reinforced by strong ligaments surrounding it, some of which extend across the joint in the back of the pelvis. This network of soft tissues provides support, limits movement at the joint, and assists with absorbing pressure.
Muscles that support sacroiliac joint function include the gluteus maximus and the piriformis muscle.
Sources of Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
Primary mechanisms of SI joint dysfunction include:
- Too much movement (hypermobility or instability) in the sacroiliac joint can cause the pelvis to feel unstable and lead to pain. Pain from too much motion is typically felt in the lower back and/or hip and may radiate into the groin area.
- Too little movement (hypomobility or fixation) can cause muscle tension, and pain, and may inhibit mobility. Pain is typically felt on one side of the low back or buttocks, and can radiate down the back of the leg (similar to sciatica pain )
What Does SI Joint Pain Feel Like?
For some, SI joint pain could be dull and achy, for others it can be sharp and stabbing. You’re most likely to feel SI joint pain in your lower back and buttocks, but it can move to your hips and down to your thighs, groin, and even your feet. You may also experience:
- Discomfort on only one side of your lower back, or both sides
- Pain with prolonged standing
- Worsening symptoms with walking, running or taking enormous strides
- Pain that worsens with certain movements, such as getting up from a chair, climbing stairs, or turning in bed
- Muscle tightness and tenderness in your hips or buttocks
- Pain that has lasted more than three months
- Symptoms feel better with movement and worse with rest
- Pain often wakes you up in the middle of the night
How SI Joint Pain Is Treated: Physical Therapy
Firstly, stop doing things that hurt your SI joints. Modify or avoid activities that worsen your pain to help reduce inflammation in the joint. Alternating ice and heat might help ease sacroiliac joint pain. Other ways to help find relief:
Physical Therapy
At Brewer Physical Therapy, your Doctor of Physical Therapy can tailor a program for you that may include:
- Massage therapy to ease sore muscles and improve mobility in the joint, hip, and low back
- Range-of-motion and stretching exercises to maintain joint flexibility
- Strengthening exercises to help stabilize the joint and reduce the stress load
- Body mechanics to teach you to how to move and use your body in everyday activities to ease SI joint dysfunction and pain
- SI joint belt recommendations
- Pain relieving treatments
Eventually, SI joint pain can lead to a loss of productivity and a decreased quality of life. It’s a common cause of disability. It can also lead to depression and even weight gain. If you’re suffering from SI joint pain or back pain, it’s time to take action. Get back pain relief with the help of a Doctor of Physical Therapy. A physical therapist will develop a personalized treatment plan just for you.
Why suffer when physical therapy can give you pain relief? Call one of our offices in Shreveport, LA, Bossier City, LA, or Minden, LA today to see how physical therapy can help you live a pain-free life. You can also click Book Appointment to schedule online right now!
In Good Health,
Lydia McNeely, PTA
Brewer Physical Therapy
