Effectiveness of Exercise Therapy and Manipulation on Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Physical Therapy
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Sacroiliac joint dysfunction (SIJD) is a common cause of lower back pain (LBP) but often overlooked.
• Current therapeutic protocols for SIJD are lacking, necessitating effective treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of exercise therapy (ET), manipulation therapy (MT), and a combination of both (EMT) for treating SIJD.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted with 51 patients diagnosed with SIJD.
• Patients were assigned to ET, MT, or EMT groups, receiving specific interventions for 24 weeks.
• Pain and disability were assessed at 6, 12, and 24 weeks post-intervention.

Main Results:

• All three groups showed significant improvements in pain and disability from baseline.
• Manipulation therapy (MT) demonstrated notable results at 6 weeks, while exercise therapy (ET) showed remarkable effects at 12 weeks.
• No significant differences in outcomes were observed among the ET, MT, and EMT groups at 24 weeks.

Conclusions:

• Both exercise therapy and manipulation therapy are effective in managing pain and disability associated with SIJD.
• Combining exercise and manipulation therapies does not yield significantly better outcomes than using either therapy alone for SIJD.