Date of Award

1998

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Master of Physical Therapy (MPT)

Department

Physical Therapy

First Advisor

Beverly Johnson

Keywords

Menstrual Cycle; Sacroiliac Joint

Abstract

Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is a common but many times untreated contributor to low back pain. The female population in particular is more likely than their male counterparts to injure the sacroiliac joint. A factor that may predispose the female population to injury is the fluctuating levels of hormones a female progresses through during a normal menstrual cycle. The purpose of this pilot study is to review the literature regarding sacroiliac joint anatomy, pathology and dysfunction and to determine whether enough evidence exists correlating sacroiliac joint injuries with a specific time of the menstrual cycle to warrant further investigation. Data was collected from six female patients being treated for sacroiliac joint dysfunction as to the time of their injury in relation to their menstrual cycle timeline. Fifty percent reported that their injury occurred 1 to 2 days prior to menses, while the remaining 50% reported that their injury was not related to menses. The results indicated a need to explore hormonal influence on the prevalence of sacroiliac joint injuries.

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