Patients suffering low back or buttock pain may be experiencing pain from the pelvis, or more specifically, the sacroiliac joint (SIJ).

Read below to find out:

What is Pelvic Pain?
What are the symptoms & causes?
Who is at risk?
How do I get relief of Pelvic Pain?

There are a number of different causes of Pelvic Pain and most are treatable by Chiropractors. Chiropractors are 5 Year University trained in the assessment, diagnosis & treatment of spinal problems.

Around 30% of low back pain may be caused by the sacroiliac joint, so could this be the cause of your low back pain?

What is pelvic pain?

Pelvic pain can be described as any pain occurring around the Pelvis.

The SIJ is a joint in your low back that links your pelvis to your spine. This is made up of the sacrum (the bony structure above your tailbone), your lower vertebrae and your pelvis. There are sacroiliac joints on both your left and right side of your lower back.

The joint’s role is to transfer load between the spine and lower extremities and also acts as a shock absorber.

This is different to your true “hip joint” which is the ball and socket joint connecting your leg to your pelvis.

what are the symptoms & causes?

Lower back pain or discomfort, usually on one side
Lower back stiffness
Pain radiating to the buttock, hips or knee

Often SIJ pain is mistaken for hip pain as the two share similar pain patterns. Here are some common features to help you distinguish between the two.

Common causes of SIJ pain are:

Trauma, such as falls
Overuse, such as repetitive sports like soccer or work with heavy lifting
Inflammatory conditions such as some types of arthritis
Pregnancy or recent childbirth

There are around 35 muscles that attach or lie close to the SIJ, so this is a very robust and busy area of the body and the cause of pain is sometimes difficult to pinpoint!

who is at risk?

Individuals at risk of Hip Pain include being pregnant or recent childbirth. Hormonal changes act to relax the pelvis ligaments to prepare for childbirth, for some women ligaments may remain relaxed after childbirth and cause pain

Also, people with gait changes such as significant leg length difference or scoliosis may place uneven pressure in each joint and cause pain.

how do i get relief?

The evidence suggests that effective treatment consists of a combination of manual therapy and exercise.

Our Chiropractors take a methodical approach to pelvic pain.

We start with:

Full History and Examination
Range of motion of low back & pelvic joints
Examination of joints and nerves relating to the painful area

If the examination indicates the SIJ is the source of the pain, we will proceed with treatment. If any further investigation needs to be performed, you will be referred for imaging (X-rays) or referred to your GP.

Our Chiropractic team explain their top approaches to SIJ pain relief:

Chiropractic Adjustments (Spinal Manipulations & Mobilisations) – These allow movement to occur at the joints and muscles, and can release pressure on the structures around the painful area.
Soft Tissue Muscle Release (Trigger point therapy, Dry needling, Vibration massage) – The muscles surrounding the SIJs area may also feel stiff as they are protecting the painful area.
Strengthening/Stretching Exercises – These can be gentle movements or more complex movements depending on how much movement or discomfort you have. The aim is to strengthen the surrounding structures to have a strong and robust low back.

If you would like to speak to our Chiropractors about your low back pain, contact us here.

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