If you stand up from your chair and feel a pain in your lower back, it could be coming from your sacroiliac (or SI) joint. SI joint pain affects many people, and in some cases the pain can be debilitating.
The ‘sacro’ in sacroiliac refers to your sacrum, which is at the bottom of your spine, above your tailbone. The ‘iliac’ refers to the hips. So your sacroiliac joint is where your spine and hips join together.
The main job your SI joints perform is to take the weight of your upper body when you stand or walk, and transfer that load to your pelvis and legs.
The pain can be a dull or sharp type of pain. It normally starts at your SI joint, but it can transfer to your buttocks, thighs, groin, or even upper back.
It is common to feel the pain on just the one side of your lower back, and sometimes standing up can trigger the pain. Sometimes it will feel worse when you wake up in the morning, and then gets better as you move around during the day.
SI joint pain occurs more frequently than you may expect. It is estimated that 15%-30% of people who have this type of pain have a problem with their SI joint.
Some common symptoms associated with sacroiliac joint problems include:
The pain is caused by damage or inflammation of the joint. This can be from
As with any condition, it is important to determine what has caused the problem, otherwise any treatment may not be effective. Your Brisbane Osteopath will ask you a number of questions and perform an assessment of your alignment and movements. This will allow them to understand how your body is working from a mechanical, functional and postural perspective.
Osteopaths are also able to refer you for X-rays, CT or ultrasound scans if they consider it necessary for your assessment.
If certain activities or sports make the pain worse, avoid those activities. The exception to this is when the pain is caused by arthritis- in this case it is important to keep the joint moving, otherwise it will become worse over time.
Osteopaths place a lot of importance on the structural integrity of the body. When the body is balanced and efficient, just like a well-tuned engine it will function with the minimum amount of wear and tear (leaving more energy for living).
Your osteopath will apply manual methods of treatment which are tailored for each individual client. Some of the techniques they use include soft tissue massage, manipulation, stretching of joints and muscles, articulation, mobilisation of joints, and muscle energy techniques.
They will often also provide simple stretches or exercises to improve your alignment and condition further, and to help prevent the condition recurring in the future.
Osteopathy can be a very effective treatment for many muscle and joint problems, including SI joint pain. They provide a holistic approach, by addressing both the causes and the symptoms, and tailoring the treatment for each individual.
Our osteopath Becky Hull previously worked as a senior osteopath for many years, and part of her role was training 6 other osteopaths. She has 12 years of expertise in treating back and sacroiliac joint pain.
Other therapies that can be used in conjunction with osteopathy include acupuncture and naturopathy.
If you are not sure if osteopathy is the ideal therapy for you, or would like to find out if acupuncture or naturopathy would also be valuable for you, please book in for a free Comprehensive Assessment at our clinic. Otherwise, you can book in to see Becky by giving us a call or use the Book Now button at the top of the page.
Be well, and have a great life!
Valued at $120, your Assessment will help to uncover:
All this will be fully explained to you, and you can ask as many questions as you like. That way we can be sure to give you all of the right information, understanding and advice you need. Terms and conditions: This is a free, no obligation offer.