| Definition/Layman’s terms for the condition | Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is a term used to describe the pain derived from the joint. It can be caused in issues with movement and alignment. It usually presents as low back pain. |
| Cause/MOI | SI joint dysfunction can be present during pregnancy when there are many changes to the body (physically, hormonally, etc). It can also be present after trauma to the area by landing on your back or landing with a straight leg causing forces to travel up the leg. |
| Common symptoms | Pain is usually localized over the buttock area where the SIJ is located. It may be a sharp or shooting pain that can refer down the back of the leg, but usually not past the knee. Most people will complain of pain when sitting down, climbing stairs |
| How is it diagnosed clinically? Diagnostically | Clinical diagnosis is based on a combination of subjective history and clinical cluster of objective tests. Subjective history may include pregnancy, direct trauma to the area, landing on a straight leg, pain localized to the buttock area or referring down the leg but not past the knee. Objective tests include a series of maneuvers that may provoke the pain or may show the clinician changes in motor control around the SIJ. |
| Treatment options? | Treatment options usually are conservative in nature and thus physiotherapy is a mainstay in addressing SIJ dysfunction. Pain medications, corticosteroids, taping and braces may also be implemented to help with daily functioning. |
| How physiotherapy can help? | Physiotherapy can help by reducing pain and inflammation, strengthening your core and mobilizing your SIJ. |
| Typical physiotherapy treatment approach-manual therapy, modalities, exercise, etc | Physiotherapy treatment may consist of manual therapy, exercises, education, and modalities. Manual therapy may consist of low back mobilisations, SIJ mobilisations and manipulations to help with pain relief.Exercises may consist of core strengthening and lower extremity strengthening, all in an effort to help provide stability to the area and increase pain free mobility. Contact us to book an appointment for a physiotherapy assessment. |
| Other treatment options | Other treatment options include braces, taping, corticosteroids. |
| Prognosis | SIJ dysfunction has a good prognosis and pregnancy-related SIJ dysfunction will usually resolves within 12 months post-partum. |
| Consequences of not getting it treated/long term effects | Ongoing pain, trouble with sitting, walking/running, trouble with daily activities that involve your lower extremities. |
| Braces that can help | Pelvic belt, SI joint belt. We offer the Sacroloc. |
Should I go to a physiotherapist after a car accident?
If you met with a car accident and having problems related to the mobility of your body or if it causes obstacles to function properly and efficiently then you should definitely go for Physical Therapy.
Physical therapists are musculoskeletal experts and may help cure the underlying musculoskeletal injuries that may have occurred after meeting with a car accident. At Triangle Physiotherapy, our Physical Therapists will assure a one-to-one session where they will conduct an extensive whole-body analysis with a target of developing a customized treatment and detailed physical therapy programs which suit best to your condition and individual needs.
What can a physiotherapist do to help after a car accident?
The goal of physical therapy is to help you recover physically and strengthen damaged muscles and tissues.
A Few physical therapy exercise programs would include:
- Manual therapy to mobilize joints, decrease scar tissue, reduce inflammation and enhance healing of tissue.
- Custom exercises to address types of pain like neck and shoulder pain, back pain, spine dysfunction, or weakness.
- Postural training to resolve pain in the neck, shoulders, and back.
COMMON TYPES OF INJURIES
The list of injuries if you meet with a car accident are as follows:
- Whiplash
- Headaches
- Back Pain
- Neck Pain
- Shoulder Pain
- Knee Pain
What are the common symptoms related to WHIPLASH?
Common symptoms related to whiplash include:
- Stiffness to neck, arms, upper back, and the face.
- Numbness into arms, neck, and upper back.
- Headache, dizziness, nausea.
- Feelings of general weakness.
- Altered and disturbed sleeping habits and patterns.
- Difficulty with concentration.
Is it important to get physiotherapy as soon as possible after a car accident?
Although you may feel the immediate onset of pain or symptoms of injury, these symptoms may bring forth pain and mobility problems over the long haul.
Suppose if you met with a car accident, one may wonder that why is it necessary to get treated with Physiotherapy after an accident? If you’re considering Physiotherapy after a car accident, there are many reasons that you may want to begin or continue with the treatment.
The doctor will recommend that you receive Physiotherapy and you will realize the benefit of rehabilitation after a car accident. You may realize on your own that you can benefit from rehabilitative treatment.
Here’s why you should start Physical Therapy after a car accident:
- Physical Therapy After a Car Accident Can Help You Recover Faster
Going through Physical Therapy after a car accident can help you speed up your recovery time. It can help the body recover its lost strength so that you can reduce the amount of time it takes to improve and fully recover from the injuries caused by car accidents. Time and again patients don’t realize how bad their car accident injuries are until they return to their day-to-day activities.
If you are looking for a physiotherapist to help you with your injuries, our rehabilitation facility is one of the best physiotherapy clinics:
- Physical Therapy Can Help You Recover Better and Prevent Long-term damage
In order to help you recover faster, Physical Therapy programs ensure a better outcome after taking good care and following Physical Therapy exercises. It can also help you or prevent the long-term effects of your injuries like chronic pain and migraines. Unfortunately, car crashes can cause nagging damage if the patient’s injuries are not addressed right away. If you begin physical therapy immediately after your car accident, it’s more expedient to live a pain-free life for years.
- Boosting Mental Health and Improving Quality of Life
Some issues can create a problem after years of being a victim of a car accident and this can seriously affect the quality of life of a person. Physical therapy relieves these issues before becoming a serious health concern for an individual.
- Avoiding Surgery
Every so often injuries caused by car accidents can even require surgery, most injuries or a type of wear and tear but a few injuries, if left rampant, can lead to surgery and costly hospital bills. It is always advised to immediately check-up with a professional for the treatment. This will help with any claims you may wish to make later on. Physical therapy treatment is a much more cost-effective solution to recovery.
There are multiple benefits of physiotherapy and that’s why people are opting for this line of treatment for recovery and overall well-being.
Steps to take after a car accident and a few advantages of Physiotherapy:
- The Type of Injury
Car accident injuries can affect your recovery time and the time period that takes to complete your treatment. One of the most common car accident injuries is whiplash. A whiplash injury occurs when the force of the accident causes your head and neck to jerk violently forward and backward. This can cause the muscles and tendons in your neck to stretch outside their normal range of motion. Whiplash can also affect the spinal column in your neck and disc injuries can be serious. Depends on the intensity of the whiplash, it can take a few months to recover and get the accurate motion of the neck as it was before.
2. The Severity of the Accident
It is more likely to sustain a moderate to severe injury in a more serious car accident, even the smallest of the injury. A more severe accident can cause consequential harm to your body even if you are taking all precautions of car safety like wearing the seatbelt and the airbag deploys. More serious injuries like a dislocated knee or a broken foot can impact your daily routines.
3. Any Previous Injuries
A previous injury can leave behind scar tissue, that impacts how your body heals the new injury. Physiotherapy often takes longer if you have previous injuries, especially if they occur in the same area.
Few factors that effect are:
- The severity of the injury
- Location of the injury
- Patient’s current state of health
- Patient’s treatment goals
- Rate of progress
How can Physiotherapy help if you’ve met with a car accident?
Physiotherapy helps reduce the pain and discomfort usually felt after a car accident injury. A lack of physical activity when recovering from an injury can actually cause stiffness, which can lead to more discomfort when trying to return to your daily activities, so you should always try to keep your body in motion.