Can a Chiropractor Help with SI Joint Pain: A Relief Guide

Quick Answer ✅

Yes, a chiropractor can help with sacroiliac (SI) joint pain. Chiropractic care is often highly effective for SI joint dysfunction by restoring proper joint alignment, improving mobility, reducing inflammation, and relieving pain through targeted adjustments and supportive therapies.

Struggling with nagging pain near your lower back or hips that just won’t quit? Wondering if chiropractic care could help ease that deep ache or catch it before it gets worse? You’re not alone and the answer may be yes.

If you’ve been searching “can a chiropractor help with SI joint pain,” you’re likely dealing with sacroiliac joint discomfort and want a clear, practical solution. This guide breaks down what causes SI joint pain, how chiropractic care works, what treatments to expect, and how it compares to physical therapy or other options.

SI joint dysfunction can quietly interfere with your daily life making it painful to sit, stand, walk, or even sleep. Many people live with the discomfort for months without realizing the source of their pain. That’s why understanding your options is so important. Chiropractic care offers a safe, drug-free approach to identifying the root of the issue and guiding your body back toward balance.

Let’s walk through what you need to know so you can move forward with confidence and finally get some relief.

What Is SI Joint Pain? How It’s Different from Typical Low Back Pain

The sacroiliac (SI) joints are located where your spine connects with your pelvis—one on each side of your sacrum. These joints don’t move much, but they play a crucial role in transferring weight between your upper body and legs.

SI joint pain typically feels like a dull, sometimes sharp ache in the buttock, lower back, or even the upper thigh. It’s often mistaken for other conditions, which is why proper diagnosis is key.

Common Symptoms of SI Joint Dysfunction

• Pain on one side of the lower back or buttock
  
• Pain that worsens with walking, climbing stairs, or standing up
  
• Discomfort after sitting for long periods
  
• Pain that radiates into the hip or groin
  
• Stiffness in the morning or after inactivity
  
• Uneven sensation in legs or pelvis
  

Red-Flag Symptoms (See a Medical Doctor Immediately)

• Loss of bowel or bladder control
  
• Numbness or tingling in both legs
  
• Sudden, severe weakness in the legs
  
• Fever or unexplained weight loss alongside back pain
  

If any of those red flags are present, skip the chiropractor and head to your medical provider immediately.

Causes & Risk Factors for SI Joint Dysfunction

SI joint pain doesn’t usually strike out of nowhere. It tends to stem from a mix of wear-and-tear, alignment issues, and mechanical stress.

Common Causes Include:

• Leg length differences (natural or post-surgical)
  
• Altered gait mechanics from a past injury or surgery
  
• Obesity, which increases mechanical stress on the pelvis
  
• Pregnancy, due to ligament laxity and weight distribution changes
  
• Arthritis (especially ankylosing spondylitis or osteoarthritis)
  
• Prolonged sitting or repetitive lifting
  
• Hypermobility or hypomobility in the pelvis
  

Could This Be You?

✅ Do you feel pain when getting out of a car?
✅ Do you favor one leg when standing?
✅ Have you recently had a hip or knee injury?
✅ Is the pain worse when walking uphill or climbing stairs?

If you checked a few of these boxes, SI joint dysfunction may be the culprit.

How Chiropractors Diagnose SI Joint Pain

Diagnosing sacroiliac (SI) joint pain can be tricky—even for seasoned healthcare providers. That’s because SI joint dysfunction often mimics other common conditions like herniated discs, sciatica, or hip bursitis. Many patients come in thinking they have one problem, only to discover the SI joint is the true culprit.

That’s where chiropractic care stands out. Chiropractors take a comprehensive, hands-on approach to evaluation. We don’t just look at symptoms—we look at movement, posture, and mechanics to get to the root cause of your pain.

What to Expect During Your SI Joint Evaluation

Here’s how the diagnostic process typically unfolds at our office:

1. Detailed Health History & Symptom Review

This first step is essential. You’ll sit down and share:

• When your symptoms started
  
• Whether they appeared suddenly or gradually
  
• What makes the pain better or worse
  
• Whether you’ve had recent trauma, pregnancy, surgeries, or prolonged inactivity
  
• Any history of arthritis, autoimmune issues, or spinal conditions
  

We’ll also ask whether the pain is sharp, dull, radiating, or burning—and if it changes with certain movements like getting in/out of the car, climbing stairs, or standing for long periods. These details help us begin to distinguish SI joint pain from other sources of low back or hip pain.

2. Posture & Gait Analysis

Your chiropractor will assess how you stand, walk, and sit. Postural alignment plays a critical role in SI joint health, and even slight imbalances can create uneven stress across the pelvis. During this assessment, we look for things like pelvic tilts, hip rotation, uneven shoulders, and abnormal curvature in the spine.

We’ll also carefully evaluate your gait and how you walk and distribute weight with each step. A limp, shortened stride, or favoring one leg can indicate SI joint dysfunction or compensation from pain elsewhere. Subtle issues like foot pronation, knee alignment, or muscle imbalances can often contribute to ongoing SI joint strain. Understanding these patterns allows us to customize treatment plans that address not just the joint itself, but the underlying mechanics that caused the problem in the first place.

We’re looking for signs of:

• Pelvic tilt or rotation
  
• Uneven leg length or weight distribution
  
• Asymmetry in the hips or lower back
  
• Favoring one leg when walking or standing
  
• Abnormal stride patterns or foot positioning
  

Even subtle imbalances can strain the SI joints and signal dysfunction—especially if one joint is moving too much (hypermobility) or too little (hypomobility).

3. Orthopedic Provocation Tests

Before starting the tests, your chiropractor will explain how each one works and why it matters. These assessments are designed to carefully stress specific joints and tissues so we can pinpoint the true source of your pain. Because SI joint dysfunction often mimics issues like lumbar disc problems or hip injuries, this step is critical for ruling out other conditions and ensuring an accurate diagnosis.

Next, we’ll perform a series of hands-on movement tests that are designed to provoke pain in the SI joint if that’s where the dysfunction lies.

These may include:

• FABER (Patrick’s Test): Flexes, abducts, and externally rotates the leg to stress the SI joint.
  
• Gaenslen’s Test: Involves extending one leg off the table while the other is flexed—stretching both SI joints.
  
• Gillet’s Test: Tests mobility of one SI joint while the other leg moves.
  
• SI Joint Compression/Distraction Tests: These press or separate the pelvic bones to assess joint sensitivity.
  

Each test targets the SI joints in slightly different ways. If multiple tests reproduce your pain on the same side, that’s a strong indicator the SI joint is involved.

These tests are gentle and safe, but incredibly helpful in pinpointing the source of discomfort.

4. Palpation & Motion Testing

Before beginning, your chiropractor will explain how palpation works and why it’s an important part of identifying SI joint dysfunction. By using their hands to gently assess the surrounding joints, muscles, and ligaments, they can detect subtle changes in texture, tension, and alignment that imaging alone may not reveal. This step also allows them to evaluate how well the SI joint and nearby structures move together, helping determine whether the issue stems from stiffness, instability, or compensation from other areas.

Your chiropractor will also feel (palpate) the joints and muscles around your pelvis and lower back. This can reveal:

• Muscle tightness or tenderness
  
• Restricted movement in the SI joint
  
• Referred pain patterns from nearby tissues
  

We may guide your legs or hips through a series of gentle movements while feeling how the joints respond. This gives real-time feedback on whether the SI joint is moving as it should.

5. Imaging (If Needed)

Before recommending imaging, your chiropractor will evaluate whether it’s truly necessary based on your history, physical findings, and response to initial testing. Since most SI joint dysfunction can be accurately diagnosed through movement-based assessments and palpation, imaging is usually reserved for complex or unclear cases. It can also be useful when symptoms suggest other possible causes, like disc herniation, hip arthritis, or nerve compression, to ensure you receive the most accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment plan.

While most SI joint issues can be diagnosed clinically, imaging may be recommended if:

• The diagnosis is unclear
  
• Symptoms persist despite treatment
  
• There are red-flag signs of more serious issues
  

Imaging Options Include:

• X-rays – helpful to identify joint degeneration, arthritis, or pelvic asymmetry
  
• MRI – ideal for ruling out disc herniation, nerve root compression, or soft tissue injuries
  
• CT scans – may be ordered by your medical provider for a more detailed look if fusion surgery is being considered
  

We’ll only recommend imaging when it’s truly necessary—and we’ll coordinate directly with radiologists or your primary care doctor if advanced evaluation is needed.

Limitations of Chiropractic Diagnosis

While chiropractors are trained extensively in musculoskeletal assessment, we’re also careful not to overstep. If your pain:

• Radiates down both legs
  
• Is accompanied by numbness, weakness, or bladder/bowel changes
  
• Worsens despite care
  
• Appears linked to infection or systemic disease
  

—we will refer you promptly to a medical provider for advanced testing or co-management.

Our goal is to get the right diagnosis, even if that means involving other specialists. And if it is SI joint pain, chiropractic care can provide some of the most direct, hands-on relief available.

Chiropractic Treatment Options for SI Joint Pain

Once confirmed, SI joint dysfunction responds well to conservative, non-invasive care—especially chiropractic.

Traditional High-Velocity Low-Amplitude (HVLA) SI Adjustments

This is the classic “chiropractic adjustment” where you might hear a pop or crack (called cavitation). It works by gently mobilizing a stuck SI joint and improving its motion.

What to Expect:

• Painless, targeted thrust
  
• Immediate pressure relief for many
  
• Takes less than a minute
  
• You may feel more balanced or even-legged right after
  

Concerned About the Crack?
 

Some patients worry that adjustments might be painful or risky, but in reality, the sound is completely normal and harmless. The popping noise is caused by a small release of gas within the joint fluid as pressure changes during the adjustment. This process doesn’t damage bones, joints, or tissues. In fact, many patients report an immediate sense of relief and improved mobility right after the adjustment.

It’s not bones cracking—it’s gas releasing from the joint space. Many patients are surprised by how gentle the adjustment feels. If you’re nervous, tell us—we’ll walk you through each step.

Gentle / Low-Force Techniques

For sensitive patients or those with conditions like osteoporosis or anxiety, we offer:

• Activator Methods® (spring-loaded tool)
  
• Drop-table adjustments
  
• Flexion-distraction (gentle decompression)
  
• Gravity blocks or positioning wedges
  

These techniques are effective and completely non-forceful.

Adjunctive Therapies

Often used alongside adjustments to speed up healing:

• TENS or electrical stimulation
  
• Therapeutic ultrasound
  
• Myofascial release or massage therapy
  
• Heat/cold therapy
  
• SI joint belt for stability
  

Our goal is a customized care plan that addresses your unique anatomy and lifestyle.

Chiropractor or Physiotherapist for SI Joint Pain?

If you’ve been wondering “sacroiliac joint pain chiropractor or physiotherapist?”—you’re not alone. Here’s how they compare:

Feature	Chiropractor	Physiotherapist	Medical Doctor
Approach	Joint alignment & nervous system focus	Muscle strengthening, posture & mobility	Medications, imaging, referrals
Best For	Alignment issues, nerve irritation, acute dysfunction	Rehab, stabilization, long-term function	Diagnosis, advanced cases, red flags
Evidence	Strong for short-term relief; growing for long-term benefit	Strong for functional improvement	Necessary for serious complications
Speed of Relief	Often rapid	Slower, steady	Depends on diagnosis/treatment plan
Cost	Usually covered by insurance	Often covered	Varies with imaging or injections
Escalation	Refers to medical if not improving	Same	May refer to pain specialist/surgeon

When to Choose Which?

• Try chiropractic first if pain came on suddenly or worsens with movement
  
• Try physio if you’ve already had some improvement but feel unstable
  
• See a medical doctor if you’ve had pain for 3+ months with no relief or experience red-flag symptoms
  

🔗 Book your assessment at Crist Chiropractic

Home Exercises & Self-Care for SI Joint Pain

Exercise is powerful—but only when done correctly and at the right time.

Top Exercises to Try:

1. Pelvic Tilts
   
   • Lie on your back, knees bent
     
   • Flatten your low back against the floor
     
   • Hold 5 seconds, repeat 10x
     
2. Glute Bridges
   
   • Engage your core, lift hips until your body forms a straight line
     
   • Hold briefly, then lower down slowly
     
   • Strengthens pelvic stabilizers
     
3. Piriformis Stretch
   
   • Cross one ankle over opposite knee, pull leg gently toward chest
     
   • Hold 20–30 seconds
     
   • Relieves hip/sciatic-style tension
     
4. Hamstring Stretch
   
   • Seated or standing, gently reach toward toes
     
   • Avoid bouncing
     
   • Increases flexibility and reduces pull on pelvis
     
5. SI Belt Use
   
   • Worn snug around the pelvis to reduce movement and pain
     
   • Great for flare-ups, pregnancy, or instability
     

Posture Tips:

• Use a lumbar roll when sitting
  
• Keep hips level in chairs and car seats
  
• Avoid crossing legs for long periods
  

When to Stop Self-Treatment:

• If pain worsens or changes location
  
• If numbness, tingling, or weakness begins
  
• If pain becomes constant or severe
  

What Results Can You Expect? Timeline, Limitations & When to Escalate

Chiropractic care for SI joint pain is typically quick to act, but every body is different.

Typical Timeline:

• 1–3 sessions: Most people notice some relief
  
• 2–6 weeks: Steady improvement with exercises and adjustments
  
• 6+ weeks: Maintenance or re-evaluation if symptoms persist
  

Limitations to Keep in Mind:

• SI joint pain from inflammatory arthritis may require co-management
  
• Pain that radiates or burns down the leg may signal a disc or nerve issue
  
• If you’re not improving after 6–8 sessions, your chiropractor may refer out
  

Can Chiropractors Fix SI Joint Pain?

Chiropractors can improve function, reduce pain, and stabilize the joint, but some cases—especially chronic or structural ones—may need additional support like physical therapy, pain management, or in rare cases, surgery.

Conclusion: Take the First Step Toward Relief

SI joint pain can be confusing, frustrating, and downright debilitating—but it’s treatable. With expert chiropractic care, a custom plan, and clear guidance, most patients find real, lasting relief.

Don’t let SI joint pain slow you down. Schedule your personalized assessment with our Franklin, TN chiropractor today.

👉 Book Now at Crist Chiropractic

FAQs

What is the new treatment for SI joint pain?

Minimally invasive SI joint fusion is a newer medical option, but most people improve with conservative care like chiropractic, physical therapy, or injection-based pain management.

How do you calm sacroiliac joint pain?

In addition to rest and gentle stretching, focusing on improving pelvic stability can make a big difference. Strengthening the surrounding core and glute muscles helps reduce strain on the SI joints and prevents flare-ups. Using proper posture when sitting, standing, and lifting is also essential for reducing irritation. For some patients, alternating heat and cold therapy or wearing an SI belt during activity provides extra relief and support while the joint heals.

Rest, gentle stretching, SI belt support, anti-inflammatory treatments, and chiropractic care are the most effective natural approaches.

Does walking help sacroiliac joint pain?

Walking can actually be a valuable part of recovery when done correctly. Short, slow-paced walks help keep the joints mobile, improve circulation, and prevent stiffness from setting in. However, it’s important to listen to your body and avoid overdoing it. Focus on maintaining good posture, engaging your core while you walk, and avoiding uneven or sloped surfaces that can aggravate the SI joints. Starting with shorter distances and gradually increasing duration is often the safest approach.

In moderation, yes. Walking promotes circulation, but if it worsens pain, reduce pace, wear supportive shoes, and consider an SI belt.

What is the best exercise for SI joint pain?

Walking can actually be a valuable part of recovery when done correctly. Short, slow-paced walks help keep the joints mobile, improve circulation, and prevent stiffness from setting in. However, it’s important to listen to your body and avoid overdoing it. Focus on maintaining good posture, engaging your core while you walk, and avoiding uneven or sloped surfaces that can aggravate the SI joints. Starting with shorter distances and gradually increasing duration is often the safest approach.

In moderation, yes. Walking promotes circulation, but if it worsens pain, reduce pace, wear supportive shoes, and consider an SI belt.

Glute bridges and pelvic tilts are excellent because they stabilize the joint without straining it.

What should I avoid if my sacroiliac joint hurts?
Avoid prolonged sitting, heavy lifting, high-impact workouts, or twisting motions until pain improves.