SI Joint Eval & Tx Flashcards
SI Joint
2 Components
- Ilium
- Sacrum
Long standing controversy regarding Role of SIJ in LBP:
2 Extreme Views
- Largely dismissed functionally 2* to little or no mvmt
- Has important primary mvmts that can be assesed as other jts
SIJ
FACTS:
- Cannot be considered as any other jt in body
- mvmts= small
- not endowed w/ muscles that execute active mvmts
- Structurally and functionally more comparable to intertarsal jts of foot
- Needs to be both stable and mobile
- Motion occurs via action of mm’s moving adjacent bony structures AND GRF’s
2 Unique Roles of the Sacrum
Directions?
2:
- Longitudinally
- Transversely
2 Unique Roles of the Sacrum
1. Longitudinally
- Supports L/S, all long. forces delivered to L/S transmitted to sacrum
2 Unique Roles of the Sacrum
2. Transversely
- Consitutes post. wall of the pelvis, transmits forces sideways from the VC into the pelvis and vice versa
SIJ as a Functional Unit
- L5-S1
- SI jts (L and R)
- Symphysis Pubis
- Bones: 2 Innominates; Sacrum
Architecture/Morphology of SIJ
- Part synovial, part syndesmosis
- Sacral surface cartilage→ largely hyaline, 2-3x thicker than iliac
- Iliac surface cartilage→ mix of mostly hyaline w/ fibrocart.
- Surfs irregular→ vary in lvl congruency
-
Bonnaire’s Tubercle→ on iliac surf of SIJ b/w upper and lower aspects
- pivot point for Nutation/Counternutation
- Sacrum wider dorsally at S1 and wider ventrally @ S3
Nutation
Occurs as sacrum moves anteriorly and inferiorly while the coccyx moves POST relative to ilium
*coccyx pulled UP
Think “cocking it into place pulling coccyx up”
Counternutation
Occurs as sacrum moves POST and SUP while the coccyx moves ANT relative to ilium
“pushing Coccxy IN”
Nutation/Counternutation Ex.
WALKING!
*may be some degree of nutation on one side and counternutation on the other side
SIJ
Ligs/Joint Cap
Interosseus Ligament
- MOST IMPORTANT ligament of the SIJ
- Lies deep in the narrow recess b/w sacrum and ilium, dorsal to joint cavity
- Functions to strongly bind sacrum TO ilium
SIJ Ligs
Post. SI Ligament
- Connects intermed and lateral crests of sacrum TO PSIS and post end of inner lip of iliac crest
- Acts in concert w/ interosseus lig to bind sacrum to ilium
- Mostly prevents post flaring or diastasis of the joint
- Longer fibers of lig prevent backward rocking (counternutation) of sacrum
SIJ Ligs
Anterior Sacroiliac Lig
- Covers ventral (FRONT) aspect of joint
- Transverse fibers running from ala (wings) and ant surf of sacrum to the ant surf of ilium
- Attach’s are of considerable dist beyond the margins of the joint
- encompasses the ant. cap of SIJ
- Binds ilium to sacrum
- Prevents ANT diastasis (flairing) of joint (nutation)
Sacrospinous Ligament
- “sacro”-sacrum TO “spinous”- ischial spine
- broad orig. from the lat edge BELOW SIJ converging on the ischial spine
- Prevents nutation (forward rocking of sacrum) → remember think cocking coccyx BACK
Sacrotuberous ligament
-
Orig’s from multiple points on sacrum:
- PSIS
- Transv tubercles of lower sacral segs
- Inf Lat. margin on sacrum
- Broad attach to medial margin of isch tuberosity
- Superf fibers of lig are cont w/ long head of biceps fem tendon
- Prevents nutation of sacrum
MM’s affecting SIJ
QL
Multifidi and Erectors→ contraction produces nutation of sacrum
Psoas
Iliacus
Glute max
Biceps fem
Rec fem
Adductors
Hip rotators
TA
coccygeus (pelvic floor mm’s)
Jt mechs of SIJ
- Bony locking mech prevents downward motion of sacrum under BW
- Sacrum set obliquely b/w ilia→ SUP end leans ventrally
- Under vertical loads it tilts forward and downward→ nutates (forward rock) around Bonnaire’s Tub
- Shape of sacrum gives bony opposition to nutation
- Ligs keep mvmts minimal****
SIJ Changes across lifespan
- 0-10→ highly mobile, jt plane close to vertical
- 10-30→ jt plane becomes oblique
- 40→ osteophytes form, capsule thickens, DJD
- 50-60→ motion DECs
- 60-80→ ankylosis (fusing)