Understanding Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
Sacroiliitis, more commonly known as sacroiliac joint dysfunction, is the term physicians and other medical experts use to describe pain felt in the sacroiliac joint area. It's a genuinely difficult condition to diagnose. Patients often describe sharp, dull, achy, stabbing, or shooting pain localized over the buttock and extending down the posterior thigh, and it can sometimes mimic, or be misdiagnosed as, radicular pain. The pain may be felt while sitting, lying on the affected side, or in some cases climbing stairs.
What Leads to SI Joint Dysfunction
For women, pregnancy can be a factor in developing SI joint syndrome. During pregnancy, the sacroiliac ligaments relax due to hormonal changes, and when the ligaments stretch, the joints become hypermobile and cause pain. Studies suggest women are eight to ten times more likely than men to suffer from sacroiliac pain, largely due to structural and hormonal differences.
Trauma also plays a role. When someone experiences an accident, the force can strain the ligaments around the joint. Tearing of the ligaments results in excess motion in the joint and can lead to degenerative arthritis over time.
Recognizing SI Joint Dysfunction
Because SI joint dysfunction closely resembles other types of low back pain, a physician and physical therapist need to run a more thorough assessment to reach an accurate diagnosis. Symptoms include thigh pain, difficulty sitting in one place for a prolonged period, low back pain, local tenderness on the posterior part of the sacroiliac joint, abnormal sacroiliac movement patterns, and sharp, stabbing, or shooting pain that extends down the posterior thigh.
For treatment, a comprehensive assessment is always done first to confirm the diagnosis and form an individualized treatment plan.
Stretches That May Bring Relief
Your physical therapist will always prescribe what's best for your specific condition, but yoga stretches are among the most common tools used to help manage sacroiliac joint dysfunction. All you need is a mat and a yoga block or pillow.
Double knee hug: lie on your back with legs stretched out, lift both knees to your chest, and hug them with your arms for 30 seconds.
Bridge: lie on your back with knees bent and feet hip-width apart on the floor. Reach your arms down by your sides, engage your abs, and inhale to lift your hips toward the ceiling into a bridge, engaging the glutes and inner thighs. Hold for 30 seconds, then release slowly, one vertebra at a time.
Child's pose: start on hands and knees, bring your big toes together, take your knees out wide, and sit your hips back on your heels. Walk your hands forward and lower your forehead to the ground, with arms straight and shoulders relaxed away from your ears. Hold for 30 to 60 seconds.
Cobra pose: lie on your belly with your forehead to the floor, hands palm-down alongside your ribs and elbows at a 90-degree angle. As you inhale, peel your chest slowly off the floor, squeezing your shoulder blades together and bringing your belly button toward your spine to protect the low back. Only lift as high as feels comfortable, hold for 30 seconds, then lower slowly on the exhale. Repeat five times with a one-minute break between reps.
There are other yoga-inspired exercises Tribeca can offer, these are just some of the common ones that can bring relief to your pain.