The spine is a complex part of the human anatomy, composed of three main
sections: the cervical spine at the top, the thoracic spine in the middle and
the lumbar spine at the bottom.
Below the lumbar spine is the sacrum, an inverted-triangle shaped bone
comprising five fused vertebrae (spinal bones) that form the supporting base of
the spine. Attached to either side of the sacrum are the ilia, the ear-shaped
bone structures in the pelvis you can feel just below your waist.
The sacroiliac joints are the structures between the sacrum and the ilia.
Their main purpose is to provide support for a large portion of your body weight
and, like every joint in the body, help support the skeletal frame.
Researchers originally believed that the sacroiliac joints weren't synovial
(able to move). However, findings now show that the sacroiliac joints are indeed
synovial -- they just become more rigid as people get older.
But age isn't the only thing that affects sacroiliac joints. Problems can
also occur as a result of abnormal motion in the joints, which may develop after
injury or strenuous activity, and pregnancy, when hormonal changes make the
joints looser. Another potential cause is a subluxated or stuck sacroiliac joint
that isn't moving to its full capacity. When this happens, the stuck joint
forces the other one to overwork, which causes it to get irritated. All of these
factors can affect the joints' range of motion, and this stresses them and
tickles or irritates surrounding nerves.
Another potential cause of SI irritation is leg-length discrepancy, which
occurs when one leg is slightly longer than the other. Legs hold up the pelvis,
and leg-length discrepancies tilt the pelvis and make it unstable, which in turn
places excess stress on the sacroiliac joints.
Regardless of the cause, however, chiropractors are successful at caring for
SI irritation. Using a variety of management techniques, your chiropractor can
improve the sacroiliac joints' mobility, decrease pain and address any factors
that are contributing to your
condition.
Chiropractic Care
There are many options available to your chiropractor for managing the
symptoms of sacroiliac (SI) irritation, all of which are safe and highly
effective.
If your symptoms have just begun, your chiropractor may recommend that you
apply a cold compress, like an ice pack, to your low back for 10 to 15 minutes
an hour. This is helpful for relieving pain, particularly within the first 48 to
72 hours of discomfort, when inflammation is at its peak. Cold constricts blood
vessels and reduces blood flow, which decreases swelling and ultimately
decreases pain.
Concurrently, your chiropractor will probably perform adjustments, also known
as spinal manipulative therapy, to the low back, which involves using his or her
hands or a device called an activator tool to apply quick, strategic thrusts to
subluxated or stuck joints. This can improve movement in the joints, as well as
increase blood flow to surrounding muscles. The increased blood flow, in turn,
makes tissues more flexible and capable of providing support.
Chiropractic adjustments can lead to dramatic improvements, and studies show
that they're highly effective for SI irritation. Sometimes, however, progress
can be gradual, so don't get discouraged if adjustments don't offer you
immediate relief.
Once all the structures are in their proper place, some chiropractors use
physiotherapeutic devices like ultrasound and interferential current (IFC) to
reduce pain and inflammation.
Ultrasound refers to any sound wave that has a frequency above the range the
human ear can perceive. To produce these waves, chiropractors use a machine that
channels electricity through a crystal located at the end of an applicator. The
crystal vibrates in response to electricity, and the machine allows users to
alter the electrical current to affect the waves' frequency. Depending on the
frequency, this can increase blood flow, decrease pain, reduce muscle spasm,
lessen nerve root irritation, break down scar tissue and speed healing.
IFC is very similar, but involves an electrical current instead of sound
waves. IFC machines work by sending this painless current through the skin into
nerve fibers below, which causes the body to produce endorphins, its natural
painkillers. By aiming the impulses over the injured area, your chiropractor can
cause endorphins to interrupt the flow of pain signals from the affected tissues
to the brain.
A stabilizing device, like a sacroiliac belt or tronchanteric belt, can also
be useful, especially for pregnant women. SI irritation is common in pregnant
women because their bodies produce increased amounts of a hormone called
relaxin, which loosens ligaments surrounding the sacroiliac joints to enable
them to spread for childbirth. The loose joints are then under more stress and
become irritated and sore. A sacroiliac belt can help, as it wraps around the
hip region to give stability to the joints, thus helping to prevent painful
movement.
Another effective way of increasing the stability in your pelvic region is to
perform strengthening exercises for the muscles in the area. If one of the
muscles surrounding the sacroiliac joints is weak, other muscles have to
overcompensate, often becoming fatigued as a result. This, in turn, puts extra
stress on the surrounding joints, as they must support the weight the muscles
normally handle. Strengthening exercises will keep the muscles around the
sacroiliac joints in top condition, and they will therefore be less prone to
weakness.
For SI irritation, conservative care that includes cold compresses,
chiropractic adjustments, supportive devices and strengthening exercises is
effective. And while it may not be possible for you to prevent a recurrence of
the condition, since factors like pregnancy and injury contribute, a commitment
to the appropriate preventive measures, like regular exercise, can reduce the
frequency, duration and intensity of any future bouts.
