Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain is a frequently overlooked source of low back and hip pain in athletes. The SI joints sit at the base of the spine where the sacrum meets the pelvis, playing a critical role in transferring force between the trunk and lower body. When irritation or dysfunction develops in this joint, athletes...
By: Maggie Gebhardt, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT While the joys of a new baby are unmatched, the physical toll of pregnancy—ranging from core weakness to pelvic and SI joint pain—often leaves postpartum women grappling with persistent low back pain. Nearly one-third of women continue to experience lumbopelvic pain a full year after giving birth. This...
In our Boulder County physical therapy practice, we are observing a resurgence of the use of clinical tests by some area providers to determine mobility and position of the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) not only to explain posterior pelvic girdle pain, but also lower back, hip issues and beyond. Approximately 20 years ago, the tides began...
Physical Therapists aim to utilize clinical objective tests to confirm their evolving hypotheses on the source of patient’s current symptoms. One of the most beneficial areas of our Physical Therapy and orthopedic research has involved the confirmation or refute of known clinical tests to identify patients with or without a given diagnosis such as an...
Manipulation, along with strength training, remains one of the most effective treatments for patients with sacroiliac (SI) pain. Spinal manipulation by a Physical Therapist provides a unique stimulus to the nervous system creating a complex therapeutic response in the patient. Researchers continue to investigate the mechanisms behind its’ effectiveness including central and peripheral nervous system...
Healthcare demonstrates significant swings of the pendulum in examination and treatment trends. Thankfully the medical evidence helps balance these swings allowing us to come to a more appropriate balance in clinical practice. Unfortunately, unchecked bias in a clinician, such as confirmation bias, can lead to missed diagnoses and inappropriate treatments. In Physical Therapy, this can...
Background Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain is an less common source of low back pain but has a higher incidence pregnant and post partum patients, as well as, after trauma. The incidence of SI pain in patients with low back pain is 13% (9-26%) (1). The majority of patients will report buttock pain (94%), lower lumbar...