Chiropractic treatments of the sacroiliac joint
Introduction to chiropractic
treatments of the sacroiliac joint
For patients with low back pain that arises from the sacroiliac joint, a variety
of chiropractic procedures can be applied. These mechanical adjustments are a
relatively conservative form of care. Chiropractic care is often
considered as the first line of treatment for sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
Low back pain arising from a sacroiliac joint is
most frequently caused by a trauma (such as a slip
or fall) or the process of childbirth. At times, no
clear historical event can be determined, often making
a chiropractic or other type of diagnosis difficult
by history alone.
The goals of
chiropractic treatment
The goal of chiropractic treatment for sacroiliac joint dysfunction is to utilize
a method that is best tolerated by the patient with the goal of yielding
the best outcome. Different patients respond better to different approaches,
so chiropractors may adopt various
chiropractic
techniques to treat sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
Approach to chiropractic adjustment
Chiropractic manipulation of the sacroiliac joint is usually
accomplished with the patient lying down on his or
her side. More specifically, the knee opposite the
side the patient is lying on is flexed and raised toward
the patient's chest. The bottom shoulder is positioned
forward producing a stretch in the low back and pelvic
region.
The chiropractor’s contact hand is placed over
the sacroiliac joint and pressure is applied while
the patient’s upper shoulder is tractioned backward
and the knee is tractioned towards the floor (see Figure
1).
When the slack is removed from the lumbar spine,
and the pre-manipulation position is determined to
be comfortable, a low force, high amplitude manipulation
is applied by the chiropractor and usually results
in an audible release (created by oxygen, nitrogen,
and carbon dioxide escaping from the joint). This chiropractic
maneuver creates the typical "crack" often
associated with joint manipulation and sounds similar
to "cracking the knuckles." (See Figure
2.)
While this description of a chiropractic manipulation
by a chiropractor may give an impression of something
that is uncomfortable, the sensation is usually quite
relieving almost immediately. Patients who have been
treated with this approach in the past often request
this chiropractic procedure.
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