The sacroiliac joint: Part 2

In part 1 of my blog, I previously discussed how instability of the sacroiliac (SI) joint can cause all sorts of problems in the body.  That blog entry talked about how the hypermobility of that joint can cause problems such as low back pain, neck pain, headaches, shoulder pain, TMJ problems, elbow pain, wrist pain, hip pain, knee pain, ankle pain… and the list goes on.

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The synovial portion of the sacroiliac joint is also known as the "boot" portion because it is shaped like a boot.

What if I told you there were actually 2 parts of the SI joint?  The part I discussed previously IS NOT supposed to move.  The part I am discussing in this blog entry is the part that IS supposed to move.
Part of the sacroiliac joint is a synovial joint. Synovial joints have synovial fluid in them, which allows them to move. Your knee, for example, has synovial fluid in it. So does the SI joint. Curiously, it is shaped like a boot and is sometimes called the "boot" portion. 

Since the 1920's, chiropractors doing what I do, called Sacro-Occipital Technic® have been saying the SI joint moves. Conventional medical wisdom dismissed this, but science has now shown that the joint moves. 1

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One of the jobs of cerebrospinal fluid is to remove waste from the brain and spinal cord. If it doesn't circulate, it's like not taking out the garbage!

Why does the joint move?

One of the functions of the movement of the "boot" portion of the sacroiliac joint is to circulate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) throughout the brain and spinal cord. The brain and spinal cord are surrounded by sheath called the dura mater and inside that is the CSF. Conventional wisdom used to teach that the CSF was simply padding for the brain and spinal cord. But recent science has confirmed what chiropractors and osteopaths have been saying for almost a century - that CSF is vital to the health of the nervous system and the rest of the body. 

​CSF brings nourishment to the brain and spinal cord. It also helps remove toxins from the brain and spinal cord. Picture  your kitchen with no new fresh food in it and nobody taking out the garbage. Eww!

Now it has been shown that it has a relationship with the lymphatic system (which also removes waste from the body).  And CSF has been found to have a relationship with the immune system.  2, 3, 4

​Restriction of this part of the sacroiliac joint interferes with the ability of CSF to move throughout the body, which can interfere with the processes I just mentioned above. 

​Would you like to have a well nourished brain and spinal cord that removes toxins and interacts with the lymphatic and immune system effectively? Heck yes! That is something that I do for every one of my chiropractic patients. 

​The nervous system exerts a tremendous amount of influence on the rest of the body. Therefore, effects of CSF restriction are thought to be related to a variety of symptoms including:

• Insomnia
• Headaches
• ​Low back pain
• Neck pain
• ​Visceral disturbances (organs like stomach, spleen, intestines, liver, male and female sex organs and more)
• Hormonal disturbances
• Emotional problems
• Skin problems
• Abnormal brain function

​The last statement about brain function is interesting because, in my study on the effects of chiropractic and brain function, we showed how altering the synovial portion of the SI joint had profound effects on the brain. 

​A chiropractor fully trained in Sacro-Occipital Technic®, AKA SOT Methods®, looks at both parts of the SI joint to make sure they are working properly. This helps the body have the stability it needs to function properly and the motion necessary for CSF to be moved throughout the body. This works to ensure proper functioning of the nervous system to promote health.

SOT Methods® takes hundreds of hours of additional training beyond that of a basic chiropractic education required in school. This is a specialty I am proud to offer at my practice.

You can schedule an appointment to get your SI joint checked by clicking above or at the Tuttle Health, LLC Facebook page. Or you can call the office at 727-509-3760 or email [email protected]

1. The Sacroiliac Joint: a Review of Anatomy and Biomechanics with Clinical Implications. Harrison DE, Harrison DH, Troyanovich S.  J Manipulative Physio Ther .1997.
2. Reassessing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) hydrodynamics: A literature review presenting a novel hypothesis for CSF physiology. Chikly, B and Quaghebeur, J. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 2013. 
3. A Paravascular Pathway Facilitates CSF Flow Through the Brain Parenchyma and the Clearance of Interstitial Solutes, Including Amyloid β. Illif et. al. Science Translational Medicine. 2012.
4. Vascular, glial, and lymphatic immune gateways of the central nervous system. Engel B. et al. Acta Neuropatholigica. 2016.

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