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The SI Joint Syndrome: Is it the disc or the pelvis?

SI joint dysfunction, back pain

ISG syndrome

The pain is extremely deep, almost in the buttocks, often radiates down one thigh, and is almost unbearable, especially when getting out of bed in the morning or climbing stairs. With these symptoms, many patients immediately fear a herniated disc in the lumbar spine. But very often the cause lies one level lower: Sacroiliac joint pain, medically as ISG syndrome designated.

The sacroiliac joint connects our hip bones to the sacrum at the lower end of the spine. It is a massive joint that must transmit immense forces when we walk, run, or jump.

What is an SI joint blockage?

The Myth of the "SI Joint Blockade"

When patients come to us with severe pelvic pain, they often have one goal: they want their Lift ISG blockade let go. The feeling that something has „gotten stuck“ back there is extremely real. But from a biomechanical perspective, the SI joint is secured by incredibly strong ligaments. It only moves by a few millimeters anyway. It cannot dislocate or „lock up“ in the classical sense.

What you feel as a stabbing blockage is in most cases a massive muscular and fascial guarding. If the leg axes are misaligned, you are limping after a foot injury, or the deep abdominal muscles are too weak, an asymmetry arises. The nervous system registers an overload of the joint and switches the muscles around the pelvis (such as the piriformis muscle) into strict tension in order to protect the region.

Our Holistic Treatment Approach

Instead of simply pressing hard on the joint, at Physiotherapie Waidfuss we look at the true cause. We harmonize the muscle tension in the buttocks, check the statics of your feet and knees, and integrate targeted Nerve mobilization. Often it is the fascial tissue or an irritated nerve that fuels the pain. In the case of very stubborn muscular trigger points around the pelvis, we use gentle manual pressure techniques upon request to relax the tissue and restore the SI joint's natural mobility.

Everyday practical tips for a pain-free SI joint

ISG syndrome

  • The leg length discrepancy: Lie on your back. Bend your knees with your feet flat on the floor. Now let the painful leg fall outward (like a half butterfly) and slowly slide your heel along the floor toward your buttocks and back again. This mobilizes the SI joint completely without pressure.

  • Avoid one-sided strain: When you're standing, consciously distribute your weight across both Feet. The typical "stance leg-free leg" posture at the supermarket checkout line provokes shear forces in the SI joint and feeds the pain memory.

Your pelvic specialists in Zurich Are you plagued by stubborn SI joint syndrome and no longer know how to sit pain-free? The therapists of Physiotherapy Waidfuss in Zurich (Wipkingen and Höngg) bring your pelvis back into balance. Book an appointment today and take the first step towards a pain-free daily life!