The sacroiliac, or SI joint, is located on the lowest portion of the spine. In fact, the SI joint is the major bony attachment between the spine and the lower extremities. Unfortunately, SI dysfunction is extremely common amongst individuals from many populations. Athletes, sedentary individuals, and many others will experience SI joint pain at some point in their lives.

In this article, we will review 5 of the major reasons why sacroiliac joint dysfunction can occur.

 

Reason #1: Obesity

The obesity epidemic has reached monumental proportions around the world. In fact, some countries now cite statistics demonstrating that more than half of their population is overweight or obese. Unfortunately, most other countries aren’t far behind.

Obviously, obesity creates many different issues for the cardiovascular system, pulmonary system, and many other organs of the body. It imposes a massive financial burden on our healthcare system, with many conditions being directly or indirectly worsened as a result of obesity.

Perhaps most significantly on an individual level, obesity can put excess stress on the musculoskeletal system. Walking with excess weight forces the joints of the body to work much harder than they should have to, leading to a variety of different issues. Excess body weight can affect any joint, but especially those that are weight bearing in nature, such as the knees, hips, and SI joint.

 

Reason #2: Overuse

SI joint dysfunction is extremely common in runners. In fact, many marathon runners struggle with SI joint pain throughout their careers. This is due to the fact that the high amounts of stress placed through the joint with every step during a run become compounded over time. 

Therefore, runners need to take extra care to develop excellent spinal mobility and stability, if they wish to avoid running into this issue.

 

Reason #3: Muscle Imbalances

There are many muscles that attach to areas around the SI joint. When these muscles are strong and balanced across both sides, most people don’t experience any SI joint pain symptoms. However, when even one seemingly insignificant muscle is weaker than it should be, the SI joint can slip out of place and cause debilitating pain.

For this reason, there are many exercises and treatments designed to keep these muscles in top shape so that patients can avoid suffering from SI joint dysfunction.

 

Reason #4: Joint Laxity

In some cases, certain patients will have more laxity in their joints than the average person. This isn’t always a problem, but it can become a major inconvenience when it causes conditions such as SI joint pain. 

It’s not clear why some people have more natural laxity in their joints. It is likely due to a mixture of genetic, environmental, and other factors. Also, there are certain stages of life and conditions that can create more laxity in the joints. One common example is that of pregnancy.

Reason #5: Trauma

High energy injuries, such as car crashes or collisions on the football field can effectively “jostle” the SI joint loose. This type of injury can be best thought of as a joint subluxation, similar to what can happen in the spine, shoulder, or other joints.

Sadly, there is no way to know when trauma will befall us. We could take all of the proper precautions but, through no fault of our own, we can be on the receiving end of a serious traumatic injury.

Have you been experiencing sacroiliac dysfunction or SI joint pain? If so, you don’t have to suffer anymore! Through expert, hands-on treatment, your Lithia, FL chiropractor at At Last Chiropractic can get you feeling better in no time. Want to meet the team and start feeling better? Book your appointment now!