Comparative Effects of Autogenic Inhibition and Reciprocal Inhibition Technique on Pain, Functional Disability and Gait in Sacroiliac Joint Dysfuction.

Sacro-iliac joint act as the shock absorber of the body. It is responsible for transferring vertical load of the whole body to lower limb hence contributing to stability of pelvic girdle. However, SI joint dysfunction is one of the most common causes of low back pain among the patients suffering from non-radicular low back pain. There can be a mechanical source which is due to muscle insufficiency or instability or a non-mechanical source which is osteoarthritis, infection or any trauma. It is thought to affect females more commonly with prevalence of about 46.71% in females and with the prevalence of about 15 to 30% in general. This poses great threat to bio mechanics of the body which can significantly lead to disability that can affect mobility, daily activities and quality of life of the individual. According to a study the pain caused by SIJD caused activity limitation and participation restriction of about 25% of the individuals. Hence making it difficult for them to continue their jobs. increased pain leads to worsening of the ability to perform ADLs which ultimately effects the quality of life. Altered biomechanics also leads to alteration in spatio temporal gait parameters.This study aims to compare the effects of autogenic inhibition technique and reciprocal inhibition technique in addition with conventional therapy in reliving low back pain, improving functional disability and alteration in spatio-temporal gait parameters in patients with sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Patients with SIJD will be recruited and will be randomly divided into two groups 20 in each group. Group 1 will receive autogenic inhibition technique of iliopsas, hamstrings, erector spinae and piriformis muscles along with standard core stabilization exercises and group 2 will receive reciprocal inhibition technique on iliopsas, hamstrings, erector spinae and piriformis muscles along with standard core stabilization exercises. The treatment will be continued for 3 weeks with 4 sessions of 25 minutes per week.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction; Muscle Energy Techniques
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Autogenic Inhibition; Procedure: Reciprocal Inhibition

Detailed Description

Participants will be divided into two groups and a total of 12 sessions will be given for 3 weeks with a frequency of 4 sessions per week and a duration of 25 minutes. Group 1 will be given autogenic inhibition technique of iliopsoas, Piriformis, hamstrings and erector spinae along with core stability exercises and conentional therapy. Group 2 will be given reciprocal inhibition techniques of iliopsoas, Piriformis, hamstrings and erector spinae along with conventional treatment and core stability exercises.

Group 1 Group 2 WEEK 1 4 SESSEIONS/ WEEK

• TENS + hot pack ⇢10 mins
• drawing in maneuver in quadruped position ⇢7 reps ⇢3 sec hold
• Bridiging ⇢5 reps ⇢no hold
• PIR of illiopsoas ⇢5 reps ⇢10 sec hold
• PIR of PIRiformis ⇢5 reps ⇢10 sec hold
• PIR of hamstrings ⇢5 reps ⇢10 sec hold
• PIR of erector spinae ⇢5 reps ⇢10 sec hold • TENS + hot pack ⇢10 mins
• drawing in maneuver in quadruped position ⇢7 reps ⇢3 sec hold
• Bridiging ⇢5 reps ⇢no hold
• RI-MET of illiopsoas ⇢5 reps ⇢10 sec hold
• RI-MET of PIRiformis ⇢5 reps ⇢10 sec hold
• RI-MET of hamstrings ⇢5 reps ⇢10 sec hold
• RI-MET of erector spinae ⇢5 reps ⇢10 sec hold Group 1 Group 2 WEEK 2 4 SESSEIONS/ WEEK
• TENS + hot pack ⇢10 mins
• drawing in manuver in quadruped position ⇢7 reps ⇢6 sec hold
• Bridiging ⇢5reps ⇢3 sec hold
• Clam shell exercises ⇢6 reps
• PIR of illiopsoas ⇢7 reps ⇢10 sec hold
• PIR of PIRiformis ⇢7 reps ⇢10 sec hold
• PIR of hamstrings ⇢ 7 reps ⇢10 sec hold
• PIR of erector spinae ⇢7 reps ⇢10 sec hold • TENS + hot pack ⇢10 mins
• drawing in manuver in quadruped position ⇢7 reps ⇢6 sec hold
• Bridiging ⇢5reps ⇢3 sec hold
• Clam shell exercises ⇢6 reps
• RI-MET of illiopsoas ⇢7 reps ⇢10 sec hold
• RI-MET of PIRiformis ⇢7 reps ⇢10 sec hold
• RI-MET of hamstrings ⇢ 7 reps ⇢10 sec hold
• RI-MET of erector spinae ⇢7 reps ⇢10 sec hold

Group 1 Group 2 WEEK 3 4 SESSEIONS/ WEEK

• TENS + hot pack ⇢10 mins
• drawing in manuver in quadruped position ⇢8 reps ⇢8 sec hold
• Supine Bridiging ⇢10 reps ⇢ 6 sec hold
• Clam shell exercises ⇢10 reps ⇢6 sec hold
• PIR of illiopsoas ⇢10 reps ⇢10 sec hold
• PIR of PIRiformis ⇢10 reps ⇢10 sec hold
• PIR of hamstrings ⇢10 reps ⇢ 10 sec hold
• PIR of erector spinae ⇢ 10 reps ⇢10 sec hold
• TENS + hot pack ⇢10 mins
• drawing in manuver in quadruped position ⇢8 reps ⇢8 sec hold
• Supine Bridiging ⇢10 reps ⇢ 6 sec hold
• Clam shell exercises ⇢10 reps ⇢6 sec hold
• RI-MET of illiopsoas ⇢10 reps ⇢10 sec hold
• RI-MET of PIRiformis ⇢10 reps ⇢10 sec hold
• RI-MET of hamstrings ⇢10 reps ⇢ 10 sec hold
• RI-MET of erector spinae ⇢ 10 reps ⇢10 sec hold

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Fajar Sajjad, DPT; Phone Number: 0331-5817637; Email: fajarsajjad1999@gmail.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Marwa Asim, MS-OMPT; Phone Number: 03335339457; Email: marwa@fui.edu.pk

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab Province
    • Islamabad, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 44000
      • Recruiting
      • Foundation University College of Physical Therapy
      • Contact: Fajar Sajjad, DPT; Phone Number: 0331-5817637; Email: fajarsajjad1999@gmail.com
      • Contact: Marwa Asim, MS-OMPT; Phone Number: 03335339457; Email: marwa@fui.edu.pk

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients having low back pain greater than 4 weeks
• Patients with positive gaenslen's test, thigh thurst test, standing flexion test, sacral compression and distraction test.
• Patients not having any other condition that can affect gait
• 25-45 years
• Both males and females

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients having nonspecific low back
• Patients with lumbosacral fusion
• Patients with any neurological condition
• Patients with history of trauma of spine
• Patients with any other lumbar spine condition (lumbar radiculopathy, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, inflammatory arthritis)
• Patients with any hip joint pathology
• Patients using any assistive device

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Autogenic Inhibition Technique; During week 1, group 1 will receive TENS + hot pack ⇢10 mins Drawing in maneuver in quadruped position ⇢7 reps ⇢3 sec hold Bridiging ⇢5 reps ⇢no hold PIR of illiopsoas ⇢5 reps ⇢10 sec hold PIR of PIRiformis ⇢5 reps ⇢10 sec hold PIR of hamstrings ⇢5 reps ⇢10 sec hold PIR of erector spinae ⇢5 reps ⇢10 sec hold During week 2, group 1 will receive TENS + hot pack ⇢10 mins Drawing in manuver in quadruped position ⇢7 reps ⇢6 sec hold Bridiging ⇢5reps ⇢3 sec hold Clam shell exercises ⇢6 reps PIR of illiopsoas ⇢7 reps ⇢10 sec hold PIR of PIRiformis ⇢7 reps ⇢10 sec hold PIR of hamstrings ⇢ 7 reps ⇢10 sec hold PIR of erector spinae ⇢7 reps ⇢10 sec hold During week 3, group 1 will receive TENS + hot pack ⇢10 mins Drawing in manuver in quadruped position ⇢8 reps ⇢8 sec hold Supine Bridiging ⇢10 reps ⇢ 6 sec hold Clam shell exercises ⇢10 reps ⇢6 sec hold PIR of illiopsoas ⇢10 reps ⇢10 sec hold PIR of PIRiformis ⇢10 reps ⇢10 sec hold PIR of hamstrings ⇢10 reps ⇢ 10 sec	Procedure: Autogenic Inhibition; During week 1, group 1 will receive TENS + hot pack ⇢10 mins Drawing in maneuver in quadruped position Bridiging PIR of illiopsoas,Piriformis, hamstrings,erector spinae During week 2, group 1 will receive TENS + hot pack ⇢10 mins Drawing in manuver in quadruped position Bridiging Clam shell exercises PIR of illiopsoas, PIRiformis, hamstrings, erector spinae During week 3, group 1 will receive TENS + hot pack ⇢10 mins Drawing in manuver in quadruped position Supine Bridiging, Clam shell exercises, PIR of illiopsoas PIR of Piriformis, hamstrings and erector spinae
Experimental: Reciprocal Inhibition Technique; During week 1, group 2 will receive TENS + hot pack ⇢10 mins Drawing in maneuver in quadruped position ⇢7 reps ⇢3 sec hold Bridiging ⇢5 reps ⇢no hold RI-MET of illiopsoas ⇢5 reps ⇢10 sec hold RI-MET of PIRiformis ⇢5 reps ⇢10 sec hold RI-MET of hamstrings ⇢5 reps ⇢10 sec hold RI-MET of erector spinae ⇢5 reps ⇢10 sec hold During week 2, group 2 will receive TENS + hot pack ⇢10 mins Drawing in manuver in quadruped position ⇢7 reps ⇢6 sec hold Bridiging ⇢5reps ⇢3 sec hold Clam shell exercises ⇢6 reps RI-MET of illiopsoas ⇢7 reps ⇢10 sec hold RI-MET of PIRiformis ⇢7 reps ⇢10 sec hold RI-MET of hamstrings ⇢ 7 reps ⇢10 sec hold RI-MET of erector spinae ⇢7 reps ⇢10 sec hold During week 3, group 2 will receive TENS + hot pack ⇢10 mins drawing in manuver in quadruped position ⇢8 reps ⇢8 sec hold Supine Bridiging ⇢10 reps ⇢ 6 sec hold Clam shell exercises ⇢10 reps ⇢6 sec hold RI-MET of illiopsoas ⇢10 reps ⇢10 sec hold RI-MET of PIRiformis ⇢10 reps ⇢10 sec hold RI-MET o	Procedure: Reciprocal Inhibition; During week 1, group 2 will receive TENS + hot pack ⇢10 mins Drawing in maneuver in quadruped position ⇢7 reps ⇢3 sec hold Bridiging ⇢5 reps ⇢no hold RI-MET of illiopsoas, PIRiformis, hamstrings, erector spinae ⇢5 reps ⇢10 sec hold During week 2, group 2 will receive TENS + hot pack ⇢10 mins Drawing in manuver in quadruped position ⇢7 reps ⇢6 sec hold Bridiging ⇢5reps ⇢3 sec hold Clam shell exercises ⇢6 reps RI-MET of illiopsoas, PIRiformis, hamstrings, erector spinae ⇢7 reps ⇢10 sec hold During week 3, group 2 will receive TENS + hot pack ⇢10 mins drawing in manuver in quadruped position ⇢8 reps ⇢8 sec hold Supine Bridiging, Clam shell exercises ⇢10 reps ⇢6 sec hold RI-MET of illiopsoas, Piriformis, erector spinae ⇢10 reps ⇢10 sec hold

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Functional disability	It will be measured by using Denver SI joint disability questionnaire which 10 questions questionnaire consisting of scoring range from 0-5 in each item answered. 0 means no disability and 5 means maximum disability. And total score is calculated in the form of percentage. Higher the percentage greater is the disability.	before treatment after after 3 weeks
Pain intensity	Pain will be measured by NPRS. A line of 10 centimeters containing numbers from 0 to 10 marked. The starting point of the scale indicates 0 or no pain whereas the ending point marks the pain as 10 which means the pain is as worse as it could be.	before treatment and after 3 weeks
Gait Speed	Gait speed will be measured by calculating the distance covered in meters divided by the time taken in seconds during walking assessment. Formula: Gait Speed (m/s) = Distance (m) × Time (s)	Assessed at baseline (before intervention) and after 3 weeks of intervention.
Cadance	Cadence will be measured as the number of steps taken per minute during walking assessment. Formula: Cadence (steps/min) = Steps Counted × 60 / Time (s)	Assessed at baseline (before intervention) and after 3 weeks of intervention.
Cycle time	Cycle time will be calculated as the time required to complete one gait cycle during walking assessment. Formula: Cycle Time (s) = Time (s) × 2 / Steps Counted	Assessed at baseline (before intervention) and after 3 weeks of intervention.
Stride Length	Stride length will be determined by multiplying gait speed with cycle time during walking assessment. Formula: Stride Length (m) = Speed (m/s) × Cycle Time (s)	Assessed at baseline (before intervention) and after 3 weeks of intervention.
Step Length	Step length will be calculated as half of the stride length obtained during gait assessment. Formula: Step Length (m) = Stride Length / 2	Assessed at baseline (before intervention) and after 3 weeks of intervention.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Foundation University Islamabad
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Fajar Sajjad, DPT, Foundation University Islamabad

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): May 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 14, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 14, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 20, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 20, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 14, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: FUI/FUCP/CTR/10.26/FajarSajad

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No