Chiropractic Care for SI Joint Pain

Using chiropractic care for SI joint pain is a great way to manage chronic issues and reduce your risk of ongoing discomfort.

Can Chiropractic Treatments Help with SI Joint Pain?

SI joint pain can be severe and interfere with your ability to enjoy life. For many people, it’s a recurring condition that flares up throughout their lives, affecting their range of motion, mobility, and quality of life. 

Chiropractic treatment is a safe and effective way to treat SI joint pain. Not only does it help with SI pain relief, but it can also reduce the risk of future discomfort.

What Is the SI Joint?

The SI or sacroiliac joint is a small triangular-shaped joint located at the base of the spine where the sacrum (the large triangular bone at the base of the spine) meets the iliac bones (the large hip bones). The SI joint is a weight-bearing joint and helps to transfer weight from the upper body to the lower extremities. The SI joint is held together by a strong network of ligaments and muscles, which work to stabilize the joint and prevent excessive movement.

What Causes SI Joint Pain?

There are several common causes of SI joint pain, including:

• Arthritis: Arthritis is a common cause of SI joint pain. The condition can cause the joints to become inflamed, leading to pain and stiffness.
• Injury: An injury to the SI joint can cause pain and inflammation if you fall or experience a direct impact on the joint.
• Degeneration: The SI joints can degenerate over time, leading to pain and stiffness. This is more common in older adults.
• Obesity: Obesity can put extra pressure on the SI joints, causing pain.
• Pregnancy: The weight of a growing baby can put extra strain on the SI joints, leading to pain.

How do you know if your SI joint is out of alignment?

Symptoms of an out-of-alignment SI joint include:

• Pain in the lower back or buttocks that gets worse with sitting or standing for long periods
• A feeling of instability or giving way in the lower back or buttocks
• Pain that radiates down the leg or into the groin
• Difficulty moving the hips or legs, or a feeling of catching when trying to move
• Swelling or tenderness in the area around the SI joint

How Does a Chiropractor Diagnose a SI Joint Problem?

There are a few ways that a chiropractor can diagnose a SI joint problem. 

One tool they use is a physical examination, which includes the chiropractor feeling for any areas of tenderness or pain in the lower back and buttocks area. The chiropractor may also ask the patient to do some simple movements or tests to see if there is any pain or discomfort in the SI joint area.

Another tool used for diagnosing a SI joint problem is an X-ray. An x-ray can help rule out any other possible causes of pain in the lower back and buttocks area. X-rays can also show if there is any SI joint damage or if there are any other problems in the area.

Is Chiropractic Care Good for SI Joint Pain?

Yes. Chiropractic treatment is a non-invasive, drug-free way to treat many different types of pain, including sacroiliac joint pain.

Chiropractic Treatments to Ease Sacroiliac Joint Pain 

The most common treatments chiropractors use to ease SI joint pain include:

Gentle Chiropractic Techniques

Gentle chiropractic techniques like tissue manipulation and massage can help to relax the muscles around the sacroiliac joint, which can, in turn, help to reduce SI joint pain.

Spinal Manipulation of the Sacroiliac Joint

This manual therapy is one of the most common chiropractic techniques, and it involves the use of gentle pressure and spinal manipulation to realign the lumbar spine.

Ultrasound

This technique uses sound waves to penetrate deep into the tissues, which can help to reduce inflammation and SI pain.

Muscle Relaxation

Chiropractic treatments aim to help the muscles around the SI joint relax. Electrical stimulation is often used to achieve these. 

Muscle Strengthening

Chiropractors usually recommend specific exercises that can help stretch and strengthen the muscles surrounding the sacroiliac joint, which can help prevent or reduce pain.

Conclusion

The sacroiliac joint is a common source of pain in the lower back and buttocks. This type of pain can range from a dull ache to sharp, stabbing pain. The pain is often worse with movement or when pressure is applied to the joint.

There are many different treatment options available for sacroiliac joint pain, and chiropractic care is one of the best. Chiropractors are trained to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal conditions, such as sacroiliac joint pain. Chiropractic care for SI joint pain often focuses on manual manipulation of the affected joint. This treatment can help to reduce SI joint pain and improve range of motion.

If you are suffering from sacroiliac joint pain, chiropractic care may be an effective treatment option. 

Dr. Darren Faherty D.C.

In 2004, Dr. Darren Faherty graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology from UWEC - University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. Dr. Darren continued education at the highly esteemed University of Western States (formerly Western States Chiropractic College) where he obtained his chiropractic degree in 2007. He has been helping people recover from injuries and return to their normal lifestyles ever since.