Sacroiliac dysfunction in dancers with low back pain.

SUMMARY. Low back pain is a common occurrence in dancers. Studies have shown its prevalence to be around 12% of all dance type of injuries. It is commonly thought by health professionals who specialize in dance medicine that sacroiliac (SI) dysfunction is one of the more common causes of low back pain in dancers. The aetiology of SI dysfunction in dancers is related to both the biomechanics of the SI joint and the physiological demands placed on the SI joint from the dynamics of dance. Injury to the SI joint can be due to a combination of a single traumatic incident, from overuse factors involving repetitive microtrauma or from emotional stress. Clinical manifestations could be pain in the back, buttock, hip and leg, and limitation of movement specific to dance. Diagnosis is based upon the deviation from normal of both the static and kinetic functions of the low back and pelvis in its relationship to the biomechanics of dance. Treatment is aimed at relieving pain, restoring the function of the SI joint and returning the dancer to full function. Copyright 1997 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.