Experiencing sacroiliac (SI) joint pain can be challenging, affecting everything from daily movement to sleep quality. Fortunately, certain stretches and exercises can help bring lasting relief. By focusing on exercises that stabilize joints, build muscle strength, and support pelvic floor health, you can reduce SI joint pain and improve overall stability.
The sacroiliac joint is a lesser-known yet substantial source of chronic pain for many individuals. Research suggests that up to 25% of all lower back pain cases can be traced back to issues with the sacroiliac joint, underscoring its role in persistent discomfort. This guide covers the best exercises and stretches for SI joint pain relief, including effective pelvic floor exercises for SI joint stability and pain relief, offering practical steps toward easing discomfort and strengthening this crucial area.
What Causes Sacroiliac Joint Pain?
Sacroiliac joint pain can arise from various causes, each impacting the SI joint and surrounding areas differently. Understanding these factors is key to choosing the right sacroiliac joint exercises for pain relief.
- Automobile accidents, serious falls, or other physical trauma: Traumatic events can strain or damage the sacroiliac joint and deep ligaments, often resulting in pain that requires stabilization and careful rehabilitation exercises.
- Arthritis: Joint degeneration, including osteoarthritis, can affect the sacrum and SI joint, causing joint inflammation, stiffness, and pain.
- Obesity: Increased body weight places added stress on the SI joint and pelvic support structures, contributing to sacroiliac joint pain.
- Pregnancy and hormonal changes: During pregnancy, the body produces relaxin, a hormone that increases joint mobility, particularly in the pelvis. This can result in hypermobility, requiring exercises to strengthen joints and pelvic floor support.
- Repetitive stress: Repetitive movements, such as twisting, lifting, or single-leg weight-bearing activity, can strain the SI joint over time, often requiring sacroiliac joint pain relief exercises.
- Chronic conditions like urinary tract infections and Crohn’s disease: Inflammatory conditions around the pelvic girdle can lead to sacroiliac joint inflammation and pain, often benefiting from an individualized stretching and strengthening program.
Chronic pain originating from the SI joint is especially prevalent in certain populations. Studies indicate that among individuals with persistent lower back pain, around 77% of those with three or more positive SI joint provocation tests experience SI joint-related discomfort. This percentage climbs to 89% for those who are pregnant, further highlighting the SI joint’s role in back pain among expectant mothers. For many, a key question is: can SI joint cause pelvic floor dysfunction? Because the SI joint and pelvic floor muscles are interconnected, dysfunction in one can often lead to issues in the other.
Sacroiliitis, or inflammation of the sacroiliac joints that link the spine to the pelvis, may affect roughly 25% of those experiencing low back pain. This condition contributes to symptoms of stiffness, limited mobility, and pain, especially during movements that involve the lower back and pelvis.
Exercise Program for SI Joint Pain
Addressing SI joint pain often involves a balanced mix of stretching, strength-building, and light aerobic activity. Many stretching and exercise programs focus on targeting the muscles surrounding the SI joint, helping to stabilize joints, ease pain, and improve overall function. By focusing on these areas, you can stabilize joints, relieve tension, and ease pelvic floor discomfort associated with SI joint and pelvic floor dysfunction.
- SI Joint Stretches: Targeted stretching helps relieve tension and improve flexibility around the sacroiliac joint.
- Strength-Building Exercises: Strength-building focuses on core and glute stability to reduce SI joint strain and enhance joint support.
- Light Aerobic Activity: Low-impact aerobic activities like walking or water aerobics improve circulation and joint function without high-impact stress.
SI Joint Stretches
Targeted stretching helps reduce tension in the SI joint, supporting pain relief and flexibility. Each stretch in this routine is designed to enhance mobility while also addressing pelvic floor and SI joint stability.
1. Stretch: One Knee to Chest
Bringing one knee to your chest helps release tension in the sacroiliac joint and stretches the lower back and buttock muscles.
How to Do It
Lie flat on your back with knees bent. Gently bring one knee toward your chest while keeping the other foot grounded. Hold for 15–30 seconds, feeling a stretch in the lower back and glutes. Repeat on the other leg.
2. Stretch: Both Knees to Chest
This stretch relieves pressure on the SI joint, aiding with pelvic girdle pain relief.
How to Do It
Lie on your back and slowly pull both knees toward your chest. Hold for 15–30 seconds to feel the stretch across the lower back. Use a small pillow under your head for cushion support if needed.
3. Stretch: Outer Hip Muscles
Stretching the outer hip can alleviate strain around the SI joint, especially when pelvic instability is present.
How to Do It
Lie on your back, cross one ankle over the opposite knee, and gently pull the uncrossed leg toward your chest. This move stretches the outer hip and deep ligaments, supporting sacroiliac joint pain relief.
4. Stretch: Spinal Twist
Spinal twists improve flexibility in the lower trunk rotation and promote alignment in the sacroiliac joint.
How to Do It
Lie on your back, bend one knee, and allow it to fall across your body toward the floor. Hold for 15–30 seconds, repeating on each side. Engage your core during the twist for greater support.
5. Stretch: Cat-Cow for Hips and Back
This dynamic stretch improves core engagement and strengthens deep abdominal muscles, which can help with sacroiliac joint pain relief.
How to Do It
On all fours, arch your back into a cat position, then dip it down into a cow position. This promotes fluidity in movement patterns and reduces stiffness around the sacrum and SI joint.
6. Advanced Stretch: Quadriceps
Quadriceps stretching can alleviate hip abduction and adduction issues that contribute to SI joint pain.
How to Do It
Stand with one hand on a stable surface, grabbing your ankle behind you and gently pulling it toward your glutes. Maintain neutral alignment and hold for 15–30 seconds on each side to support hip adductor stretches.
Strength-Building Exercises
Strength-building exercises are essential for stabilizing the SI joint, particularly when dealing with pelvic floor and SI joint pain. The following exercises promote glute strength, core engagement, and support joint stability.
1. Strengthen: Pelvic Tilt for Core
Pelvic tilts engage the lower abdominal muscles, helping reduce sacroiliac joint pain and stabilize the pelvis.
How to Do It
Lie on your back with knees bent, flattening your lower back against the floor by contracting your core. Hold for 5–10 seconds and repeat 10–15 times.
2. Strengthen: Inner Thigh Squeeze
This exercise supports core engagement and helps stabilize the sacroiliac joint by targeting the inner thigh and pelvic floor muscles.
How to Do It
Place a small pillow or resistance band between your knees, squeeze gently, hold for 5–10 seconds, and repeat 10–15 times.
3. Strengthen: Bridge for Glutes and Abs
Bridges strengthen the gluteus maximus and deep abdominal muscles, helping reduce strain on the SI joint.
How to Do It
Lie on your back, lift your hips while engaging the core, and hold for 5–10 seconds. Repeat for 10–15 repetitions.
4. Strengthen: Triangle Pose for Hips, Thighs, and Abs
This yoga pose promotes glute strength and core stability, making it ideal for sacroiliac joint pain relief.
How to Do It
Stand with your legs apart, reaching one hand over your foot and extending the other toward the sky. Hold for 10–15 seconds on each side.
5. Strengthen: Bird-Dog Pose
Bird-dog improves balance and strengthens the pelvic floor and core, supporting SI joint and pelvic floor function.
How to Do It
On all fours, extend one arm forward and the opposite leg back. Hold for 5–10 seconds, then switch sides. Repeat 8–10 times.
Light Aerobic Activity
Gentle aerobic activity like walking and water aerobics programs can ease SI joint pain and support joint function without high-impact stress.
- Water aerobics: A gentler water workout offers joint relief and muscle strengthening without impact, suitable for those with SI joint pain.
- Walking: Walking on even surfaces is a low-impact way to stay active and improve circulation.
- Stationary cycling: Cycling offers aerobic benefits while avoiding the strain of long-duration biking.
- Tai chi: This activity combines gentle movements and core engagement, supporting balance and pelvic floor stability.
Sacroiliac Joint Pain Exercises to Avoid
To prevent further SI joint pain, certain high-impact or repetitive movements are best avoided.
- Sit-ups and abdominal crunches: These exercises place excessive pressure on the lower back and SI joint.
- Golf and tennis: Sports involving twists at the hips can aggravate SI joint pain.
- Weightlifting and football: High-stress sports and physical contact activities can destabilize the SI joint.
- Extended biking: Long-duration biking may strain the lower back and sacroiliac area, especially if posture isn’t maintained.
Medical Treatment for SI Pain
If home exercises and stretches aren’t enough, professional medical treatment for SI joint pain relief may be beneficial. Pelvic floor therapy can be an effective approach for addressing SI joint pain, as it supports the pelvic muscles and improves stability, reducing strain on the sacroiliac joint. Additionally, physical therapy may incorporate SI joint injections or individualized stretching and strengthening programs to further relieve pain and restore mobility.
- Physical therapy: An orthopedic physical therapist can develop an individualized therapy program that targets the specific needs of your sacroiliac joint pain.
- SI joint injections: These injections provide direct relief by addressing inflammation, often recommended as part of a comprehensive sacroiliac joint treatment strategy.
Tips for Safe Sacroiliac Joint Exercises
Maintaining safety while exercising is essential, particularly when dealing with sacroiliac joint instability. Use cushion support, engage core muscles, and avoid over bracing or impact moves. Gradual progression in your exercise repetitions is also key to reducing the risk of strain.
How Many Exercises?
Start with 3–4 stretches and 2–3 strength exercises for SI joint pain relief, focusing on gentle movements. Aim for consistency over intensity, gradually increasing your routine based on your comfort level.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If pain persists despite your best efforts with sacroiliac joint exercises, it’s wise to consult a healthcare provider. Chronic SI joint pain may require specialized sacroiliac joint treatment strategies to address deeper issues like pelvic floor dysfunction.
Continuous Motion Physical Therapy addresses SI joint and pelvic pain with advanced pelvic floor therapy to support core stability and relieve joint strain. Our therapists create personalized stretching and exercise programs for lasting pain relief and improved mobility, helping you achieve a pain-free, active life.
Conclusion
Sacroiliac joint pain relief is within reach through a balanced approach that incorporates stretching, muscle strengthening, and joint stabilization. By supporting the SI joint and pelvic floor, these exercises help you reclaim comfort and confidence in daily movements.
FAQs
Can pelvic floor exercises alleviate sacroiliac joint pain?
Yes, pelvic floor exercises can support the sacroiliac joint by enhancing pelvic floor stability, reducing the strain on the SI joint, and improving overall support.
How long does it take to see improvement with these exercises?
Typically, with consistent practice, you may notice an improvement in pain relief within 4–6 weeks.
Can these exercises be done during pregnancy?
Most of these exercises are safe for pregnancy, particularly those focusing on gentle stretching and strengthening. However, consult your healthcare provider for guidance tailored to your needs.
