A typical pattern of sacroiliac pain….
but this varies from day to day &
person to person. |
Although back pain has a number of causes, experts from all professions
agree that the SACROILIAC JOINTS (SIJs) of the pelvis are
involved in many cases. Sacroiliac pain tends to be low down, often
more to one side, and often extends into the buttock, the back of the
thigh and sometimes the calf. It can start suddenly, but tends to persist
as a dull ache, on & off, often with a feeling of pins & needles in
the buttock. Unless correctly diagnosed and treated, this can continue
for many years, eventually leading to further problems.
Research shows the sacroiliac joints to be involved in up
to 90% of cases of low back pain. Many people have
asked why the SI joints are so prone to giving trouble.
Several authorities point to the transition from quadruped
to biped, where there appears to be an evolutionary
weakness. In the quadruped, most weight is taken on the
front legs, e.g. in the horse the distribution is about 65:35
front to hind. Thus the quadruped sacroiliac joint takes a
good deal less than half the animal's weight. In man the
sacroiliac joint takes 100%.
 Another important consideration is the change in angulation
from the horizontal to the vertical. In the horse, the
main iliac bones of the pelvis act as pylons with the sacrum
and spine suspended underneath by massive ligaments.
In man, the sacrum is partly held by ligaments but
mainly by contraction of the pelvic girdle muscles. “force closure” These resist the massive shearing forces
generated across the SI joints.
 If the pelvic muscles become strained, they tend to go
into a spasm around the SI joints giving a painful
“locked” or “fixed” joint. Over a long period of time,
the muscles weaken, the ligaments around the joint
stretch and the joint becomes sprained, with too much
movement: “hypermobile”.
Breaking the sprain /strain cycle
Often sufferers will get relief from visiting their physiotherapist,
osteopath or chiropractor, only for the problem to return after a
day or two. It's frustrating for both patients and clinician.
It’s a fact agreed by all health professions that in chronic back
pain, the tissues overwork and decondition, leading to an inability
to cope with the stresses of everyday life.
This is where a helping hand can be invaluable. When given
gentle, reliable support, muscles and ligaments get a chance to
repair and strengthen enough to cope on their own.
The Serola SI belt takes the strain off the postural muscles and
ligaments while they rehabilitate, helping work towards a long
term solution.
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