As the name suggests, a sacroiliac injury is just that—damage that has been caused by direct trauma to the SI joint itself.

Falls, injuries and accidents can happen in seemingly countless ways. When it comes to the sacroiliac joint, injury can occur as the result of a hard fall or simple misstep, or be due to a car accident or other unforeseen event affecting the pelvis. Unlike a shoulder or knee joint that can be felt from the outside of the body, the sacroiliac joint is located deep within the body, somewhat insulating and protecting it from more common direct injury. However, direct sacroiliac injuries do occur and knowing where to turn when they do is important.

There can be many events that cause a sacroiliac injury, but something they have in common is the body encountering some degree of blunt force trauma. When this type of trauma occurs, the sacroiliac joint can become damaged and SI joint dysfunction may follow. If you or a loved one is experiencing the symptoms of SI joint pain, here are some event considerations when you’re trying to rule out a direct injury to the sacroiliac joint:

• Falls – Particularly severe falls, no matter the age of the person sustaining them can damage the sacroiliac joint and result in injury, especially if the fall was on or broken by the buttocks. Contrary to what many people believe, a fall doesn’t have to be from great heights to result in sacroiliac injury. With a significant amount of force, even seemingly “small falls” can cause damage.
• Automobile Accidents – Those involved in automobile accidents may sustain injury to the sacroiliac joint as a result of the impact. For example, if one leg was straight upon impact and felt as though it jammed back into your pelvis, this could cause sacroiliac injury. As is often the case with car accidents, the body can twist in an awkward way to defensively brace and protect itself from impact and sacroiliac injury may ensue. The accident needn’t be particularly damaging to the vehicle in order to harm the person inside of it.
• Sports Injuries – It may seem to go without saying that heavy contact sports like football or soccer can be the culprit in some sacroiliac injury cases, but this isn’t always obvious to the patients suffering from these conditions. Because pain originating from the sacroiliac joint may take time to develop, the person suffering from the pain may “forget” the traumatic injury that may have caused it. But like any other blunt force, the sacroiliac joint can sustain quite a bit of damage from a hard tackle or ill-placed kick.

When it comes to sacroiliac injuries, finding the right physician to serve as a really good detective is important. During many types of pain diagnosis, injury to the sacroiliac joint may not be the first cause to be considered. This is why it is important to consult with a physician who understands the diagnosis and treatment of SI joint conditions. He or she will employ a wide range of diagnostic examinations to determine the extent of the sacroiliac injury.

Once a diagnosis of injury to the sacroiliac joint is established, specifically directed treatment can lead to satisfying results for patients, so you can get back to living the life you want, free from SI joint pain.