Sacroilliac Joint Pain in Mona Vale
Sacroiliac joint pain can cause pain around one side of the lower back, pelvis or buttock and may be aggravated by walking, standing, bending or changing positions. At Helix Recovery, we assess the lower back, pelvis and surrounding areas to identify likely contributors to your symptoms.
What is Sacroilliac Joint Pain?
The sacroiliac (SI) joints connect the pelvis to the sacrum at the base of the spine. They transfer load between the upper body and legs and normally move only a small amount.
Pain around the SI joint region can develop following injury, changes in activity or increased loading. However, pain felt over the SI joint does not always mean the joint itself is the source, as the lumbar spine, hip and surrounding tissues can produce similar symptoms.
Common Symptoms
Pain on one side of the lower back or buttock
Pain around the back of the pelvis
Pain with prolonged standing or walking
Pain when getting up from sitting
Discomfort with stairs or single-leg activities
Pain when rolling or changing position in bed
How We Assess Sacroilliac Joint Pain
Pain around the SI joint can be difficult to distinguish from symptoms arising from the lumbar spine, hip or surrounding muscles, and imaging often does not identify the source of mechanical SI joint pain.
Assessment may include SI joint provocation tests, lumbar and hip movement, strength testing and movements or activities that reproduce your symptoms.
The aim is to determine whether the SI joint region is likely to be contributing and identify any strength, movement or loading factors that can be addressed through rehabilitation.
How We Treat Sacroilliac Joint Pain
Treatment depends on how long symptoms have been present, their severity and the activities you want to return to.
Treatment may include:
Osteopathic manual therapy
Exercise rehabilitation
Strength and mobility exercises
Activity and load modification
Gradual return to work, gym or sport
Education and self-management
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SI joint pain commonly occurs around one side of the lower back or buttock, but symptoms can overlap with lumbar and hip conditions. A combination of your history and specific clinical tests can help determine whether the SI joint is likely to be involved.
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It can refer pain into the buttock and sometimes the thigh, although symptoms extending further down the leg may require assessment for other causes such as lumbar nerve irritation.
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Yes. Progressive strengthening and graded exposure to aggravating activities can help improve load tolerance and function, particularly when exercise is matched to your presentation.
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Usually, no. The SI joint is a strong, stable joint and small positional differences do not generally mean the pelvis is “out of alignment.” Treatment focuses on reducing symptoms and improving movement, strength and load tolerance.
Common Questions
Is SI Joint Pain Limiting What You Can Do?
If pain around your lower back or pelvis is affecting your work, training or everyday activities, we can assess what's contributing and develop a treatment and rehabilitation plan.