Your pelvis has several components – the Ilium, the Ischium, the Pubic bone and the sacrum. As you can see in the diagram opposite, these are all connected. In Osteopathic terms, the Ilium, Ischium & pubis bones after they fuse are referred to as the ‘Innominates’. The left and right innominates, therefore, cradle the sacrum in the posterior aspect of the pelvis.
When we think of Low Back Pain (LBP), we often think of the lumbar spine and the sciatic nerve as the main culprits, and this may be so. But other structural and Soft Tissue dysfunctions can also cause LBP. For instance, a widespread complaint takes its root cause from the sacrum and the pelvis.
When we walk or run, the two Innominates rotate anteriorly (forwards) and posteriorly (backwards) as the sacrum also glides and pivots around the posterior aspect of the pelvis. If this dynamic movement pattern is dysfunctional, it will cause pain that may not be as severe as Sciatic pain but will be very uncomfortable and potentially limit our ability to perform specific movements. If left unattended for a while, it will evolve into a more severe condition.
Some causes of this may result from short and tight hamstrings or long and weak quadriceps, which may cause a posterior tilting of the pelvis on the side of this imbalance. This will create a different position for the sacrum to move through, causing pain and other dysfunction.
We’ve all heard the phrase, “it’s my sacro-iliac joint!” and as you can see from the model on the left, this is where we feel the pain. As the causative factor in most of these complaints is muscular in origin, Soft Tissue Therapy can help to address the imbalances in the targeted muscle groups. Adding some strengthening exercises and some stretching can also help to alleviate this pain-causing problem.
Make a booking today and we will assess this issue for you.
