What is the SI joint?
The sacroiliac joint joins the sacrum to the pelvis. The sacrum connects on the right and left sides to the ilia (pelvic bones) to form the sacroiliac joints. The pelvic girdle is made up of two innominate bones (the iliac bones) and the sacrum.
What is SI dysfunction?
Dysfunction in the sacroiliac joint, or SI joint, is thought to cause low back pain and/or leg pain. The leg pain can be particularly difficult, and may feel similar to sciatic pain, or pain caused by a lumbar disc herniation.
Physical Therapy Can Help
Physical therapists are skilled in the manual detection of sacral dysfunction. By determining what the dysfunction is, they can use manual techniques to help correct the alignment and devise an exercise program that will help you control the dysfunction at home.
Chief Complaints
- Lower back pain (below L5)
- Sensation of lower extremity pain, numbness, tingling, weakness
- Pelvis / buttock pain
- Hip / groin pain
- Feeling of leg instability (buckling, giving way)
- Disturbed sleep patterns due to pain
- Disturbed sitting patterns (unable to sit for prolonged periods, sitting on one side)
- Pain going from sitting to standing