Biomechanical Evaluation Study of SI Joint Dysfunction Yields Significant Change in Winter Olympic 2022

    HONG KONG, February 02, 2022 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain is one of the most common symptoms in athletes. With one week to go until the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, athletes are making their final push to strive for glory at the quadrennial winter sports extravaganza. Investigators from Chiropractic Doctors Association of Hong Kong have launched a prospective 2022 case study on Biomechanical Evaluation of Pelvic Incident to SI Joint Dysfunction(1) which has potential to improve the management for Beijing Winter Olympic 2022 Training.

The sacroiliac joint is designed to act as a shock absorber for the upper extremities. In most athletes' cases with low back pain, the source of lower back pain is sacroiliac pain. The sacroiliac joints are two load-bearing joints at the base of the spine. These joints support the upper body when standing. High-impact movements by athletes put excess strain on SI joints. The joints become inflamed, causing pain when standing, numbness, and weakness. Research estimates about 40% of athletes have SI pain.

"SIJ dysfunction is a common cause of low back pain in athletes, especially in sports with repetitive, asymmetric loading. Consideration of the SIJ as a pain generator in this population is important because sports can predispose athletes to SIJ pathology," described by Dr Li Peng, member of CDAHK. Dr Li entered the Chinese Olympic Committee in 2018 and started his career in providing medical care for the national teams. He is currently acting as the Instructor of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games National Team Medical Staff Sports Rehabilitation Skills Training Course.

The diagnosis of sacroiliac joint pain is difficult due to its symptoms mimicking disc or lower back pain. The current preferred diagnostic tool used is an invasive tool: an injection with a local anesthetic. Although treatment can be minimally invasive with short procedure time, metal implant and recovery time are sometimes required. However, Olympic athletes are cautious to avoid any chemical injection into their body systems.

The original study was initiated by Dr Eric Chun Pu Chu, Chairman of CDAHK, in a review of management of imbalanced gait (2-4), scoliosis (5-8), low back pain and disc herniation (9-12) at New York Medical Group (NYMG). During their studies, the investigators measured the pain scores, range of motions, and all radiological parameters using an optical tracking system before and after treatments.Pelvic incidence (PI) is a radiographic parameter describing the relative position of the sacral endplate in relation to the pelvis, and implications of PI change under pathological conditions have not yet fully investigated. The results revealed that non-pharmaceutical treatment significantly changed the pelvic incidence angles and reduced pain score. Additionally, the original inflammatory sclerosis surrounding the right SIJ in the x ray had resolved after treatments.The incidental finding provides a new angle in management of SIJ pain, which can immediately apply to the athletes in 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic.

"The dysfunction starts when your sacroiliac joint gets inflamed. There are several reasons it could happen. You could hurt it when you play sports or if you fall down. You might also get this problem from an activity that gives the area a regular pounding, like jogging. You could take uneven strides when you play sports with SI joint pain. The new approach can help the sports doctors to provide more accurate diagnosis and different options of treatments," stated by Dr Li in Beijing.

Dr Chu suggests biomechanical treatments such as MID® and SpineMT® spine remodeling technologies, and chiropractic biophysics, many of which can efficiently rectify spinal misalignment and low back pain. The revolutionary high-tech design of the spine remodeling technologies comprises computer control of enhanced therapeutic logic and patient-pleasing comfort elements such as mild pneumatic traction administration. Traditional Gua Sha therapy, or tech-advanced Strig®, are all beneficial in the treatment of muscle pain (13). Itrac® is also good for neck pathology (14-18). Combined, this system works to enhance the modern physical medicine clinic.

As the chiropractic profession is booming and creating more impact in the sports medicine industry (19-21), CDAHK is happy to discover the innovative new procedure in the diagnosis of SIJ pain, so that we may provide even more treatment options to help minimize or eliminate chronic joint or back pain for patients. The new approach can benefit both athletes and any patients with SIJ pain.

References:
1) Chu EC. Change in Pelvic Incidence Associated With Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction: A Case Report. 2022 January; J Med Cases. 2022;13(1):31-35
2) Chu ECP, Wong AYL, Lee LYK. Chiropractic care for low back pain, gait and posture in a patient with Parkinson's disease: a case report and brief review. AME Case Rep. 2021;5:34. doi: 10.21037/acr-21-27. eCollection 2021. PubMed PMID: 34805753; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8572672.
3) Chu ECP, Lam KKW. Post-poliomyelitis syndrome. Int Med Case Rep J. 2019;12:261-264. doi: 10.2147/IMCRJ.S219481. eCollection 2019. PubMed PMID: 31496835; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6690913.
4) Chu C. Subsiding of Dependent Oedema Following Chiropractic Adjustment for Discogenic Sciatica. European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine. 2018 March; 5(1):1-4. doi: 10.5334/ejmcm.250
5) Pu Chu EC, Chakkaravarthy DM. Changes in radiographic parameters following chiropractic treatment in 10 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A retrospective chart review. Clin Pract. 2020 Sep 4;10(3):1258. doi: 10.4081/cp.2020.1258. eCollection 2020 Sep 4.
6) Pu Chu EC, Kai Huang KH. Bridging the gap between observation and brace treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. J Family Med Prim Care. 2017 Apr-Jun;6(2):447-449.
7) Chu ECP. Lumbosacral transitional vertebra as a potential contributing factor to scoliosis: a report of two cases. Asia-Pac Chiropr J. 2020;1.1.
8) Leung K, Huang K, Chu EC. Chiropractic management as conservative care for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A cases report. Asia-Pac Chiropr J. 2021 September; 2(2).
9) Chu E. Thoracolumbar disc herniation: a hidden cause of monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis. European Journal of Molecular and Clinical Medicine. 2021 April; 8(3):2834-2840.
10) Chu ECP. Taming of the Testicular Pain Complicating Lumbar Disc Herniation With Spinal Manipulation. Am J Mens Health. 2020 Jul-Aug;14(4):1557988320949358.
11) Chu ECP, Chan AKC, Lin AFC. Pitting oedema in a polio survivor with lumbar radiculopathy complicated disc herniation. J Family Med Prim Care. 2019 May;8(5):1765-1768. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_254_19. PubMed PMID: 31198752; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6559111.
12) Chu C. Chiropractic Care for Postlaminectomy Syndrome. International Journal of Medical and Health Science. 2017 July; 6(3):185-187.
13) Chu ECP, Wong AYL, Sim P, Krüger F. Exploring scraping therapy: Contemporary views on an ancient healing - A review. J Family Med Prim Care. 2021 Aug;10(8):2757-2762. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_360_21. Epub 2021 Aug 27.
14) Chu EC. Preventing the progression of text neck in a young man: A case report. Radiology Case Reports. 2022 January; 17(3):978-982. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radcr.2021.12.053.
15) Chu EC, Wong AY. Cervicogenic Dizziness in an 11-Year-Old Girl: A Case Report. Adolesc Health Med Ther. 2021;12:111-116. doi: 10.2147/AHMT.S341069. eCollection 2021. PubMed PMID: 34866956; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8636150.
16) Chu EC, Zoubi FA, Yang J. Cervicogenic Dizziness Associated With Craniocervical Instability: A Case Report. J Med Cases. 2021 Nov;12(11):451-454. doi: 10.14740/jmc3792. Epub 2021 Nov 5. PubMed PMID: 34804305; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8577610.
17) Chu ECP, Lo FS, Bhaumik A. Plausible impact of forward head posture on upper cervical spine stability. J Family Med Prim Care. 2020 May;9(5):2517-2520. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_95_20. eCollection 2020 May. PubMed PMID: 32754534; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7380784.
18) Chu EC, Chu V, Lin AF. Cervicogenic Headache Alleviating by Spinal Adjustment in Combination with Extension-Compression Traction. Arch Clin Med Case Rep 2019; 3 (5): 269-273. 2019; 3(5):269-273. doi: https://doi.org/10.26502/acmcr.96550090.
19) Chu EC. Chiropractic and Future of Healthcare in Asia. J Contemp Chiropr. 2021 November; 4(1):138-141.URL https://journal.parker.edu/index.php/jcc/article/view/174.
20) Chu EC. Hong Kong poised for rapid healthcare change. Asia-Pac Chiropr J. 2021 September; 2(2). doi: https:// www.apcj.net/papers-issue-2-2/#ChuHongKong.
21) Leung K, Chu EC. Hong Kong Chiropractic Survey: Analysis of Data. Asia-Pac Chiropr J. 2021 November; 2(3). URL: https://www.apcj.net/papers-issue-2-3/#LeungChuHongKong.

About the Chiropractic Doctors Association of Hong Kong
The Chiropractic Doctors Association of Hong Kong (CDAHK) is the largest professional chiropractic organization in Hong Kong and China. CDAHK is the globally awarded association and recruited the most principled and accomplished chiropractors, and provided premium chiropractic healthcare. The CDAHK pioneered the healthcare industry by collaborating with other health care professionals, by influencing pro-chiropractic legislation, by supporting clinical research and by using that clinical experience to inform rehabilitative practices. To learn more, visit www.cda.org.hk or [email protected]

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