Efficacy of Manual Therapy for Sacroiliac Joint Pain Syndrome

As chiropractors, we know that the sacroiliac joint is often involved in low back and pelvic pain syndromes (among other things). This week, an update on the evidence relating to manual therapy for SIJ pain syndrome…

It is generally thought that between 10% and 38% of adult low back pain (LBP) cases can be attributed to sacroiliac joint pain syndrome (SIJPS). SIJPS has been defined as pain affecting the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) and surrounding soft tissue structures, often resulting in local LBP and/or referred pain to the ipsilateral lower extremity. Conservative interventions, such as injections, radiofrequency ablations, exercises, electrotherapeutic modalities, and manual therapy are considered first line treatments for SIJPS. However, there is no consensus as to which treatments are the most appropriate.

High velocity, low amplitude (HVLA) thrust manipulation is commonly used in treating SIJPS, although the evidence supporting this clinical approach is also limited. Furthermore, manual therapy in general has not been shown to provide outcomes that are superior to other conservative interventions, like exercise.

The efficacy of exercise and injections for SIJPS have previously been investigated in systematic reviews, but none have considered manual therapy. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the efficacy of manual therapy with respect to pain and disability for SIJPS in adults.

This week’s Research Review: “Efficacy of Manual Therapy for Sacroiliac Joint Pain Syndrome”

This paper was published in JMMT (2024)

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