SI Joint Challenge: June ’22

SI Joint Challenge: June ’22

For the month of June we shall examine the sacroiliac joint…

Basic Anatomy

“The sacroiliac joint connects the hip bones (iliac crests) to the sacrum, the triangular bone between the lumbar spine and the tailbone (coccyx). The primary function of the sacroiliac joints is to absorb shock between the upper body and the pelvis and legs. The sacroiliac joint typically has little motion. Small movements at the joint help with shock absorption and forward/backward bending. The joint is reinforced by strong ligaments surrounding it, some of which extend across the joint in the back of the pelvis. This network of soft tissues provides support, limits movement at the joint, and assists with absorbing pressure. Other muscles that support sacroiliac joint function include the gluteus maximus and the piriformis muscle.” (Courtesy of Spine Health (dot) com)

Here is an image from a Yoga Journal article on SI Joint & back pain.

Video: SI Joint Anatomy

Yoga Poses for SI Joint Issues

SI joint issues often lead to low back pain. But as we know there are a multitude of contributing factors to low back pain, so the presence of back pain does not definitively mean that it is related with the SI joint. All that said, many of the poses that alleviate low back pain, in particular back bends, may help with the SI joint issues.

Here in an article from Yoga International by Judith Lasatar on low pain pain and the SI joint.

In any of our yoga flow classes, we are both stretching and strengthening those muscles and regions related with the SI joint. This helps to prevent and alleviate low back issues.

Here also is a very safe, simple practice that may help with SI joint issues.