The Sacroiliac Joint, or the SI joint, is the joint that is between the sacrum and ilium bones of the pelvis. There are two SI joints each joint is connected by strong ligaments and the joint also helps to support the spine. SI joints act as a shock-absorbing structure in the pelvis. The two main reasons that people suffer from SI pain are too much movement, or too little movement. Too much movement in the SI joint can lead to hip and lower back pain. Too little movement has a similar effect but can also cause pain to radiate down the legs and even into your ankles.
Here at Oahu Spine & Rehab our medical team can perform a number of brief tests to determine if the source of your pain may be your SI joints. Our physical therapists here in Kailua are experienced in designing at-home stretches and exercises for patients with SI joint dysfunction. Not only can you seek help at OSR for your SI joint pain, but there are a few more tricks and trades to making sure that you’re not causing an SI flare up!
Make sure that if you are starting to exercise to help your pain that you start out slowly. It’s easy to over-exhort yourself when you are just starting out. Start with a short walk or bike ride and work up to longer cardio workouts. If your pain is coming from overworking the SI joint, it’s important to not go cold turkey on movement all together. Base your level of activity on your pain and only do what you can handle. It’s also important to avoid activities (like running) that can further damage the SI joint while you’re healing or in treatment here at OSR. Because your SI joint absorbs the force to your pelvis, running is putting a lot of pressure (literally) on your joints.
A chiropractor alignment can work wonders in making sure that you are not putting unnecessary stress and strain on your spine or SI joints. If you work at a desk, make sure that you are watching your posture and sitting habits, as crossing your legs and leaning can cause major issues on your spine and pelvis alike!
These are just a few tips to take into consideration in between your appointments here at OSR. Here at our integrated health center we happily offer our patients treatment plans for all chronic pains and injuries, including joint injections and physical therapy for SI joint dysfunction. If you or someone you know are suffering from any pain, give us a call today to schedule an appointment at 488-5555!
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