The sacroiliac, or SI, joint is the junction between the bones of the sacrum -- the part of the spine between the lower back and the tailbone -- and the bones of the pelvis. This joint is not designed to allow much, if any, free movement. SI joint dysfunction and pain can linger for considerable periods and defy attempts at treatment, but in most cases it is possible to continue to run when you have SI dysfunction.
Sources of Dysfunction
Most injuries and problems involving the SI joint are traumatic rather than chronic, such as twisting too forcefully at the waist or stepping in a hole, according to "Running Times." Having weak muscles in your core, or trunk, is a predisposing factor. Pain with SI dysfunction is felt most often and strongly in the lower back and hip, but in some cases radiates out to the buttocks. Dysfunction sometimes results from a subluxation, or dislocation, or the joint with attendant damage to the ligaments that cement the joint in place. Regardless, you should be able to continue running through most mild SI problems.
Initial Treatment
Before seeing a doctor, once your SI dysfunction has progressed to the point at which it has begun interfering with your running, you can try a number of remedies at home. The Stretching Institute recommends icing the area as a first line of defense, followed by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Always check with your doctor before using medications of this type. Be sure to do an adequate warm-up before starting a run -- advice that applies even when you're healthy. Any exercises that strengthen the hip area are useful in staving off further SI dysfunction.
Medical Treatment
In addition to therapy at home, your doctor or other provider can assist your recovery from SI joint dysfunction in a number of ways. According to the Sports Injury Clinic, after ruling out underlying diseases that might be contributing to the problem, your provider may employ electrotherapy, level the pelvis through physical manipulation, recommend a massage with or without a specific rehabilitation program, or offer a corticosteroid injection -- the latter serving as a last resort.
Pool Running
As noted in "Running Times," the phase of the stride cycle in which one foot is planted on the ground places tremendous stress on an SI joint that is already not working properly. As a result, pool running -- a longtime favorite of injured runners -- may be a great option for you since it eliminates impact stresses. Exercise physiologist Pete Pfitzinger advises that at any given effort level, your heart rate during pool running will be eight to 11 beats per minute slower than on land, owing to hydrostatic forces.
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