A Review of the Sacroiliac Joint

Low back pain is one of the leading causes of lost productivity at work and disability in the United States. There are many factors thought to be involved in this diagnosis. These include intervertebral disc problems, mechanical dysfunctions, muscle sprains, ligament strains, and infectious diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and tuberculosis. One area often overlooked in the diagnosis of low back pain is the sacroiliac joint. There is much controversy surrounding the function of this joint. Although some clinicians question if there is any movement at all, many manual therapists evaluate this area in their daily practice and believe that appreciable motion does exist. Because of its orientation, the sacroiliac joint is difficult to visualize clearly with radiographic techniques. This increases the difficulty of diagnosing pathology in this area. However, with careful clinical testing procedures performed by experienced therapists, many believe they can isolate sacroiliac dysfunction. The purpose of this study is to describe pathological conditions of the sacroiliac joint. The procedure used will be a literature review to include the anatomy, function, and motion, and will attempt to explain some diagnostic procedures used to confirm dysfunction at this joint. The results will be useful for physical therapy clinicians in diagnosing and treating sacroiliac dysfunction