Electrotherapy for Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

Electrotherapy is the use of electric currents to provide therapeutic treatments. Examples include Ultrasound, TENS and Interferential. Electrotherapy should only be used by qualified therapists.

Interferential

• Electrotherapy is used to treat inflammation and pain and speed up healing.
• Interferential is the method of choice as it has the ability to work deep into the SI joint which is difficult to access.
• Using 4 pole interferential the pads can be located in a box formation around the PSIS > Play video
• The cables should be connected in a diagonal fashion allowing the varying currents to cross each other.
• Where the currents cross is where the interferential effects take place.
• They should therefore be positioned with the SI joint in the centre.
• Power settings and frequency will be dependant on what you wish to achieve and also the tolerance levels of the patient.
• Use of interferential settings are an individual thing and therapists who are trained and use these machines on a regular basis will know what settings work best for them.

Important:

• Safety should be practiced when using any electrotherapy machines and contraindications to treatment should be observed before applying treatment.

Ultrasound

• The sacroiliac joint is located deep in the pelvis and is difficult to treat with ultrasound, however often the associated ligaments become inflamed such as the Ilio-lumbar ligament and this is found close to the surface near the PSIS.
• This ligament responds well to ultrasound treatment.
• Treatment time and settings vary with therapists but 5 minutes on a pulsed setting of 1-4 ratio should help.
• A small amount of gel is applied to the skin to provide a medium for the 'ultrasound waves' to travel through from the head of the machine into the tissues of the body > Play video
• More information on the benefits of ultrasound can be seen here - ultrasound.

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