Sacro-iliac joint pain: etiology and conservative treatment.

Orthopedic surgeons use many modalities in conservative treatment of low back pain (LBP) and sacroiliac pain (SIP) but few have been studied with randomized controlled trials. We have been studying the physiological effects of manipulation on joints and the clinical effect on patients. Manipulation is different from other forms of manual therapy. Quantitative sacroiliac scintigraphy and three clinical tests in patients with unilateral pain and tenderness over the SI joint suggest sacroiliac joint syndrome is a clinical entity. The iliac and sacral surfaces of the sacroiliac joint develop differently. Although this statement need further study it seems that manipulations may play a role in the treatment of LBP and SIP.