Your surgeon may refer you to a physical therapist who will teach you exercises to improve your strength and increase your mobility. The goal of physical therapy is to help you become active as soon as possible, using safe body movements that protect your spine and your sacroiliac joint. This often includes abdominal-strengthening exercises. The therapist may also teach you different ways of standing, sitting, or lifting to avoid reinjuring your spine.
BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL THERAPY AFTER SI JOINT FUSION SURGERY
One of the biggest mistakes that patients make following SI joint fusion, or any (orthopedic) surgery for that matter, is assuming that the “problem” is fixed immediately post-procedure. From a physical therapist perspective, this is not the case for several reasons.
First of all, the SI joint and the majority of other joints in the body rely heavily on muscular balance and support to function at optimal level. The wheel on your car is a good example. If the wheel is not balanced properly or your alignment is off, you’ll get less life out of your tires. Joint pain is felt sooner in joints that are not properly balanced, just like the wheel on your car.
The human body is incredibly resilient and can tolerate years of abuse before presenting itself as pain. The physical therapist's job is to identify the imbalance and correct the problem before it turns into irreversible damage where surgery is required. If the SI joint dysfunction cannot be corrected with conservative methods, surgery becomes an option.
If surgery is elected, the SI joint is stabilised (fused) and the patient may notice immediate pain reduction, although the muscular dysfunction remains. For example, if the SI joint dysfunction was a result of muscle shortening in the front of the hip or poor glute strength, it will now be exaggerated by the bed rest and decreased activity levels following surgery, which will cause further weakening or muscle shortening. This is where the physical therapist needs to step in to assess the mobility and stability of the area, design a treatment plan, and help you get the most life out of your new tires!
