Sacroiliac Joint Play | SIJ Dysfunction Assessment

Sacroiliac Joint play is performed in an attempt to assess for sacroiliac joint dysfunction such as SI Joint hypomobility.

To assess joint play, have the patient in prone lying position. We are going to assess the joint play of the right SI joint.

Let’s begin by dividing the SI joint in 4 quadrants, which makes it easier to describe the hand placements.

For the right SI joint, place the hypothenar of your right hand in quadrants 2 and 4 and grab the patient’s ilium with your other hand.

Then pull the ilium up and medially and assess the joint play. Try to avoid posterior rotation of the ilium.

Other  orthopedic tests for SIJ dysfunction are:

• Standing Bent Over Test/Vorlauf Test
• Gillet / Marching / Sacral Fixation Test
• Sacroiliac joint Nutation
• Sacroiliac joint Counternutation

Due to the low reliability of SIJ dysfunction test, we advise leaving them behind and only focusing on SIJ provocation tests like the cluster of Laslett.

Robinson, H. S., Brox, J. I., Robinson, R., Bjelland, E., Solem, S., & Telje, T. (2007). The reliability of selected motion-and pain provocation tests for the sacroiliac joint. Manual therapy, 12(1), 72-79.