One reason for your lower back and hip pain may be Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Dysfunction. In this blog, we will discuss what SI Joint Dysfunction is and how chiropractic treatments can effectively manage SI pain.
What Is Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction?
Sacroiliac (SI) joints connect your sacrum to the pelvis. The triangular-shaped bone situated just below the lowest set of vertebrae in your spine is called the sacrum. The pelvis is a bowl-shaped bony structure and contains the bladder, bowel, and reproductive organs.
SI pain happens when the joint moves too much or is either too tight. This can cause the misalignment of the joints leading to inflammation in the supporting tissues of the joint. Sacroiliac pain can also occur if the cartilage that protects the bone ends wears away due to aging or injuries.
What Causes Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction?
There are several conditions due to which a sacroiliac joint dysfunction can happen. Some of them are listed below:
- Obesity
- Pregnancy or if you had a child recently
- Gait problem
- You are mostly inactive during the major part of the day
- Injuries
- You had surgery or have a chronic condition such as arthritis or some autoimmune disease
How Do Chiropractors Treat SI Joint Dysfunction?
Chiropractic treatment plans vary depending on your condition. However, the primary goal of the treatment will be to:
- Improve the alignment of your SI joint
- Decrease the inflammation
- Stretch and strengthen the tissues and muscles that support your pelvis
One of the major priorities of your chiropractor will be to realign your SI joint by using these two methods:
- Spinal Manipulation: It involves using quick, hands-on movement using a handheld device to deliver quick thrusts to realign your SI joint
- Spinal Mobilization: It also realigns the joints, but here slower movements are used
Some of the other therapies in addition to spinal mobilization and manipulation that are used to realign your sacroiliac joint are:
- Ultrasound Therapy
- Flexion-Distraction
- Exercises and stretches
- Massage to loosen tight muscles and reduce pain
- Heat Therapy
- Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
- Orthotics
- Sacroiliac Belt to minimize pain
Don't let sacroiliac joint dysfunction ruin the quality of your life. Active Chiropractic & Laser Center can help you to regain the functionality of your sacroiliac joint. Contact our office today to schedule your chiropractic appointment.
