The Sacroiliac joint (SI) mainly connects the base of the spine to the pelvis. It has two connection points and a huge network of ligaments because it is a weight-bearing joint. The connection points have a kind of interlocking mechanism that limits movement at the joint. The SI joint is prone to irritated and is easily inflamed, resulting in pain in the lower back and buttocks. If left untreated, this joint can become arthritic.
There are many problems that can arise in this joint and collectively they are referred to as sacroiliac joint dysfunction and lead to SI joint pain. Under this term you can have SI joint inflammation, SI joint strain and SI joint syndrome. The SI joint secures a crucial place but often overlooked joint in the human body.
There can be innumerable reasons why sacroiliac joint dysfunction develops. Just like any other joint in the body, this joint is also prone to degeneration that happens as a result of the wearing away of the shock absorbing cartilage. This results in bone on bone friction and is called osteoarthritis. This is a common issue with most weight bearing joints of the body.
On the other hand, pregnancy can also lead to SI joint pain. When a women is pregnant, there are special hormones released by the body to help prepare it for child birth. The hormones help to relax the ligaments of the body and in the SI joint area this can make it more susceptible to strain. Plus you have alterations in walking and standing posture coupled with the added weight of pregnancy. This can all result in SI joint pain. Therefore, it is observed that females are more prone to SI joint pain.
The reason could be any like slight anatomical differences in the hips and pelvis. Often when females sleep on their sides, the wider hip width means the top thigh drops down a lot. This put extra strain on the SI joint by opening it up. One solution is to sleep with a pillow between your legs and this should help the SI joint pain. Also sitting cross legged does a similar thing. It opens the joint and places uneven stress on it often for prolonged periods. The result is commonly SI joint pain. The solution is simple but may take some getting used to: stop sitting crossed legged.
The most common reason for the SI joint to work improperly and become inflamed is that the position of the pelvis in relation to the curvature of the base of the spine gets out of balance. If the pelvis is tipped or tilting and the connection points of the joints are not seated correctly, there will be uneven wear and tear and, over time, the joint will break down and lead to arthritis.
It is important to understand that the position of the pelvis and the position of the spine do not change overnight. It takes time, often many years of your muscles being out of balance with each other for this to happen. These muscle imbalances cause postural imbalances. Eventually, if the muscles, bones, and SI joint are not working together as they should, this will result in a condition known as Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction. A reliable health care center specializing in offering extensive spinal treatment could be the ideal solution for your pain.
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