A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on the effect of various therapeutic...

Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is the most common condition associated with low back pain which leads to pain and disability. Therefore, the aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on efficacy of physical therapy interventions in sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

Randomized controlled trials on sacroiliac joint dysfunction, using physiotherapy as an intervention were evaluated for changes in pain and disability. Three different towere searched to find out the relevant studies using Advanced search strategy. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed by PEDro scale and Cochrane risk of bias tool. For meta-analysis, mean and standard deviation value were extracted from each study and analyzed as a random effect model on four interventions that are muscle energy technique, mobilization, exercises, and taping. Review manager 5.3 software was used.

The result of the study showed a statistically significant improvement of muscle energy technique on pain (-1.88, p = 0.009) and mobilization on pain (-0.90, p = 0.003), exercise on pain (-1.13, p = 0.004), and exercise on disability (-5.37, p < 0.001). However, there was non-significant result of taping on pain and muscle energy technique, mobilization and taping on disability.

It can be concluded that physiotherapy interventions are effective in managing the pain, and restoring the functional disability of the patients suffering from sacroiliac joint dysfunction. MET and Exercises were found to be more effective in reducing pain than Mobilization in treating sacroiliac joint dysfunction and only Exercises are effective in improving the disability in SIJD. Therefore a combined approach may be more beneficial.