Injury advice > Buttock Injuries > Sacroiliac joint inflammation

Sacroiliac Joint Inflammation

What is a sacroiliac joint?

There are Sacroiliac Joints either side of the spine located at the bottom of the back. These joints assist in making up the rear part of the pelvic girdle and sit between the sacrum and the ilia.

When the lower limbs are moved there are torsional or twisting forces applied to the pelvic girdle. The sacroiliac joints allow the lower limbs to act like long levers and without the sacroiliac joints and the pubic symphysis (at the front of the pelvis) which allow movement, the pelvis would very likely be subject to a fracture.

These joints can often get stuck or in some cases one half of the pelvis can glide forwards or backwards, which is often referred to as a twisted pelvis. When this occurs it often irritates the Iliolumbar ligament which results in Inflammation. This is usually indicated by tenderness around the bony lumps which you can feel if you place your thumbs either side of your lower back.

This kind of inflammation of the sacroiliac joints and associated ligaments is very common, particularly after pregnancy where the hormone relaxing is released and this results in the relaxation of ligaments in preparation for childbirth. Usually the causes of sacroiliitis are mechanical, occasionally there may be other medical inflammatory conditions present such as Ankylosing Spondylitis as well as others. These conditions will need treatment.

What are the symptoms of this injury?

  • There will be pain located either to the left or right of your lower back. This pain might be an ache or it might be a sharp pain which can restrict movement.
  • The pain may radiate out into your buttocks and low back and will often radiate to the front into the groin. Occasionally it is responsible for pain in the testicles among males.
  • Occasionally there may be referred pain into the lower limb which can be mistaken for sciatica.
  • You may have difficulty turning over in bed and putting on shoes and socks as well as pain getting your legs in and out of the car.
  • Stiffness in the lower back when getting up after sitting for long periods and when getting up from bed in the morning.
  • Aching to one side of your lower back when driving long distances.

Useful Products:

  • Sacroiliac Belt - provides support and compression, helping to relieve stress and instability in the Sacroiliac joint.

Please see the Virtual Sports Injury Clinic for more information on how to treat Sacroiliac Joint Inflammation