Pelvic Belt Effects on Health Outcomes and Functional Parameters of Patients with Sacroiliac Joint Pain

Niels Hammer, Robert Möbius, Stefan Schleifenbaum, Karl-Heinz Hammer, Stefan Klima, Justin S Lange, Odette Soisson, Dirk Winkler, Thomas L Milani, Niels Hammer, Robert Möbius, Stefan Schleifenbaum, Karl-Heinz Hammer, Stefan Klima, Justin S Lange, Odette Soisson, Dirk Winkler, Thomas L Milani

Abstract

Introduction: The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is a common source of low back pain. However, clinical and functional signs and symptoms correlating with SIJ pain are widely unknown. Pelvic belts are routinely applied to treat SIJ pain but without sound evidence of their pain-relieving effects. This case-control study compares clinical and functional data of SIJ patients and healthy control subjects and evaluates belt effects on SIJ pain.

Methods: 17 SIJ patients and 17 healthy controls were included in this prospective study. The short-form 36 survey and the numerical rating scale were used to characterize health-related quality of life in patients in a six-week follow-up and the pain-reducing effects of pelvic belts. Electromyography data were obtained from the gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, rectus femoris and medial vastus. Alterations of muscle activity, variability and gait patterns were compared in patients and controls along with the belts' effects in a dynamic setting when walking.

Results: Significant improvements were observed in the short-form 36 survey of the SIJ patients, especially in the physical health subscores. Minor declines were also observed in the numerical rating scale on pain. Belt-related changes of muscle activity and variability were similar in patients and controls with one exception: the rectus femoris activity decreased significantly in patients with belt application when walking. Further belt effects include improved cadence and gait velocity in patients and controls.

Conclusions: Pelvic belts improve health-related quality of life and are potentially attributed to decreased SIJ-related pain. Belt effects include decreased rectus femoris activity in patients and improved postural steadiness during locomotion. Pelvic belts may therefore be considered as a cost-effective and low-risk treatment of SIJ pain.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02027038.

Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The Bauerfeind AG granted financial and material support. This does not alter the authors' adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Figures

Fig 1. Modified CONSORT flow diagram.
Fig 1. Modified CONSORT flow diagram.
Fig 2. Summary of the experimental setup;…
Fig 2. Summary of the experimental setup; COP = center of pressure recordings, EMG = electromyography data, MRI = magnetic resonance imaging.
Fig 3. A: Application of a pelvic…
Fig 3. A: Application of a pelvic belt (SacroLoc, Bauerfeind AG, Zeulenroda-Triebes, Germany) to a 26 year-old female control. B: Recording of gait pattern data on force plates in all participants without pelvic belt, under moderate and maximum tolerable compression.
Fig 4. Short-form 36 survey of patients…
Fig 4. Short-form 36 survey of patients with sacroiliac joint pain, controls and comparison to low back pain patients: Six-week belt application improved health-related quality of life in the patients.
PF = physical role functioning, RP = role physical, BP = bodily pain, GH = general health perceptions, VT = vitality, SF = social role functioning, RE = role emotional functioning, MH = mental health.
Fig 5. Numerical Rating Scale of patients…
Fig 5. Numerical Rating Scale of patients with sacroiliac joint pain in the investigation day without and with pelvic belt application: Pelvic belt application is related to significant decreases of pain perceptions, as compared to the last two-week perception without belt application.
** p < 0.01.
Fig 6. Summary of differences of muscle…
Fig 6. Summary of differences of muscle activation between patients with sacroiliac joint pain and controls and pelvic belt-related effects.
Fig 7. Gait analyses of patients with…
Fig 7. Gait analyses of patients with sacroiliac joint pain and healthy controls without and with pelvic belt application: Cadence: ○ = no pelvic belt; Δ = pelvic belt application with moderate tension; □ = pelvic belt application with maximum tension.
Fig 8. Gait analyses of patients with…
Fig 8. Gait analyses of patients with sacroiliac joint pain and healthy controls without and with pelvic belt application: Gait velocity; ○ = no pelvic belt; Δ = pelvic belt application with moderate tension; □ = pelvic belt application with maximum tension.

References

    1. Chou LH, Slipman CW, Bhagia SM, Tsaur L, Bhat AL, Isaac Z, et al. Inciting events initiating injection-proven sacroiliac joint syndrome. Pain medicine (Malden, Mass). 2004;5(1):26–32. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC14996234.
    1. Cohen SP. Sacroiliac joint pain: a comprehensive review of anatomy, diagnosis, and treatment. Anesthesia and analgesia. 2005;101(5):1440–53. 10.1213/01.ane.0000180831.60169.ea PubMed Central PMCID: PMC16244008.
    1. Cohen SP, Chen Y, Neufeld NJ. Sacroiliac joint pain: a comprehensive review of epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment. Expert Rev Neurother. 2013;13(1):99–116. 10.1586/ern.12.148
    1. Forst SL, Wheeler MT, Fortin JD, Vilensky JA. The sacroiliac joint: anatomy, physiology and clinical significance. Pain physician. 2006;9(1):61–7. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC16700283.
    1. Schwarzer AC, Aprill CN, Bogduk N. The sacroiliac joint in chronic low back pain. Spine. 1995;20(1):31–7. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7709277.
    1. Szadek KM, van der Wurff P, van Tulder MW, Zuurmond WW, Perez RSGM. Diagnostic validity of criteria for sacroiliac joint pain: a systematic review. The journal of pain: official journal of the American Pain Society. 2009;10(4):354–68. 10.1016/j.jpain.2008.09.014 PubMed Central PMCID: PMC19101212.
    1. Vleeming A, Schuenke MD, Masi AT, Carreiro JE, Danneels L, Willard FH. The sacroiliac joint: an overview of its anatomy, function and potential clinical implications. J Anat. 2012;221(6):537–67. 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2012.01564.x
    1. Farabeuf LH. Sur l’anatomie et la physiologie des articulations sacro-iliaques avant et après la symphyséotomie.: Annales de gynécologie et d'obstétrique. 1894;41:407–20.
    1. Fick RA. Handbuch Der Anatomie Und Mechanik Der Gelenke Unter Bercksichtigung Der Bewegenden Muskeln Jena: Gustav Fischer; 1904.
    1. Dieulafé L, Saint-Martin M. Le type articulaire sacro-iliaque. Comptes rendus de l'Assodation des Anatomistes. 1912;14:95–109.
    1. Klein G. Zur Mechanik des Ileosacralgelenkes. Zeitschrift für Geburtshilfe und Gynäkologie. 1891;21:74–118.
    1. Puhakka KB, Melsen F, Jurik AG, Boel LW, Vesterby A, Egund N. MR imaging of the normal sacroiliac joint with correlation to histology. Skeletal radiology. 2004;33(1):15–28. 10.1007/s00256-003-0691-4 PubMed Central PMCID: PMC14614576.
    1. Scolumb L, Terry RJ. Influence of the sacrotuberous and sacrospinous ligaments in limited movements of the sacroiliac joint. Journal of the American Medical Association. 1926;(87):307–9.
    1. Le Blanche AF, Mabi C, Bigot JM, Rousseau J, Trèves R, Outrequin G, et al. The sacroiliac joint: anatomical study in the coronal plane and MR correlation. Surgical and radiologic anatomy: SRA. 1996;18(3):215–20. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8873336.
    1. Weisl H. The ligaments of the sacro-iliac joint examined with particular reference to their function. Acta anatomica. 1954;(20):201–13.
    1. Laplante BL, Ketchum JM, Saullo TR, DePalma MJ. Multivariable analysis of the relationship between pain referral patterns and the source of chronic low back pain. Pain physician. 2012;15(2):171–8. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC22430655.
    1. Bechtel R. Physical characteristics of the axial interosseous ligament of the human sacroiliac joint. The spine journal: official journal of the North American Spine Society. 2001;1(4):255–9. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC14588329.
    1. Daum WJ. The sacroiliac joint: an underappreciated pain generator. American journal of orthopedics (Belle Mead, NJ). 1995;24(6):475–8. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7670870.
    1. Kim JT, Rudolf LM, Glaser JA. Outcome of percutaneous sacroiliac joint fixation with porous plasma-coated triangular titanium implants: an independent review. Open Orthop J. 2013;7:51–6. 10.2174/1874325001307010051
    1. Cusi MF. Paradigm for assessment and treatment of SIJ mechanical dysfunction. Journal of bodywork and movement therapies. 2010;14(2):152–61. 10.1016/j.jbmt.2009.12.004 PubMed Central PMCID: PMC20226362.
    1. Freburger JK, Riddle DL. Using published evidence to guide the examination of the sacroiliac joint region. Physical therapy. 2001;81(5):1135–43. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11319939.
    1. Dussault RG, Kaplan PA, Anderson MW. Fluoroscopy-guided sacroiliac joint injections. Radiology. 2000;214(1):273–7. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10644136.
    1. Fortin JD, Vilensky JA, Merkel GJ. Can the sacroiliac joint cause sciatica? Pain physician. 2003;6(3):269–71. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC16880870.
    1. Murakami E, Aizawa T, Noguchi K, Kanno H, Okuno H, Uozumi H. Diagram specific to sacroiliac joint pain site indicated by one-finger test. Journal of orthopaedic science: official journal of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association. 2008;13(6):492–7. 10.1007/s00776-008-1280-0 PubMed Central PMCID: PMC19089535.
    1. Panjabi MM. The stabilizing system of the spine. Part II. Neutral zone and instability hypothesis. Journal of spinal disorders & techniques. 1992;5(4):390–6; discussion 7. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC1490035.
    1. Pool-Goudzwaard A, Kleinrensink GJ, Snijders CJ, Entius C, Stoeckart R. The sacroiliac part of the iliolumbar ligament. Journal of anatomy. 2001;199(Pt 4):457–63. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11693306.
    1. Miller AN, Routt ML Jr. Variations in sacral morphology and implications for iliosacral screw fixation. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2012;20(1):8–16. 10.5435/JAAOS-20-01-008
    1. Beales DJ, O'Sullivan PB, Briffa NK. The effects of manual pelvic compression on trunk motor control during an active straight leg raise in chronic pelvic girdle pain subjects. Manual therapy. 2010;15(2):190–9. 10.1016/j.math.2009.10.008 PubMed Central PMCID: PMC19945907.
    1. Hu H, Meijer OG, van Dieën JH, Hodges PW, Bruijn SM, Strijers RL, et al. Muscle activity during the active straight leg raise (ASLR), and the effects of a pelvic belt on the ASLR and on treadmill walking. Journal of biomechanics. 2010;43(3):532–9. 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2009.09.035 PubMed Central PMCID: PMC19883914.
    1. Jung HS, Jeon HS, Oh DW, Kwon OY. Effect of the pelvic compression belt on the hip extensor activation patterns of sacroiliac joint pain patients during one-leg standing: a pilot study. Man Ther. 2013;18(2):143–8. 10.1016/j.math.2012.09.003
    1. Park K-M, Kim S-Y, Oh D-W. Effects of the pelvic compression belt on gluteus medius, quadratus lumborum, and lumbar multifidus activities during side-lying hip abduction. Journal of electromyography and kinesiology: official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology. 2010;20(6):1141–5. 10.1016/j.jelekin.2010.05.009 PubMed Central PMCID: PMC20646935.
    1. Shadmehr A, Jafarian Z, Talebian S. Changes in recruitment of pelvic stabilizer muscles in people with and without sacroiliac joint pain during the active straight-leg-raise test. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2012;25(1):27–32. 10.3233/BMR-2012-0307
    1. Takasaki H, Iizawa T, Hall T, Nakamura T, Kaneko S. The influence of increasing sacroiliac joint force closure on the hip and lumbar spine extensor muscle firing pattern. Manual therapy. 2009;14(5):484–9. 10.1016/j.math.2008.11.003 PubMed Central PMCID: PMC19119054.
    1. Merskey H, Bogduk N. Classification of Chronic Pain Description of Chronic Pain Syndromes and Definitions of Pain Terms. 2 ed. Seattle, WA: IASP Press; 1994.
    1. Szadek KM, Hoogland PVJM, Zuurmond WW, Lange JJd, Perez RSGM. Nociceptive nerve fibers in the sacroiliac joint in humans. Regional anesthesia and pain medicine. 2008;33(1):36–43. 10.1016/j.rapm.2007.07.011 PubMed Central PMCID: PMC18155055.
    1. Arumugam A, Milosavljevic S, Woodley S, Sole G. Effects of external pelvic compression on form closure, force closure, and neuromotor control of the lumbopelvic spine—a systematic review. Man Ther. 2012;17(4):275–84. 10.1016/j.math.2012.01.010
    1. Ho KY, Hadi MA, Pasutharnchat K, Tan KH. Cooled radiofrequency denervation for treatment of sacroiliac joint pain: two-year results from 20 cases. J Pain Res. 2013;6:505–11. 10.2147/JPR.S46827
    1. Soisson O, Lube J, Germano A, Hammer KH, Josten C, Sichting F, et al. Pelvic belt effects on pelvic morphometry, muscle activity and body balance in patients with sacroiliac joint dysfunction. PLoS One. 2015;10(3):e0116739 10.1371/journal.pone.0116739 .
    1. Laslett M. Evidence-based diagnosis and treatment of the painful sacroiliac joint. The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy. 2008;16(3):142–52. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC19119403.
    1. Laslett M, Aprill CN, McDonald B, Young SB. Diagnosis of sacroiliac joint pain: validity of individual provocation tests and composites of tests. Manual therapy. 2005;10(3):207–18. 10.1016/j.math.2005.01.003 PubMed Central PMCID: PMC16038856.
    1. Maigne JY, Aivaliklis A, Pfefer F. Results of sacroiliac joint double block and value of sacroiliac pain provocation tests in 54 patients with low back pain. Spine. 1996;21(16):1889–92. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8875721.
    1. Boutron I, Moher D, Altman DG, Schulz KF, Ravaud P. Extending the CONSORT statement to randomized trials of nonpharmacologic treatment: explanation and elaboration. Annals of internal medicine. 2008;148(4):295–309. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC18283207.
    1. Elm Ev, Altman DG, Egger M, Pocock SJ, Gøtzsche PC, Vandenbroucke JP. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies. Annals of internal medicine. 2007;147(8):573–7. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC17938396.
    1. Fritz J, Sequeiros RB, Carrino JA. Magnetic resonance imaging-guided spine injections. Top Magn Reson Imaging. 2011;22(4):143–51. 10.1097/RMR.0b013e31827e5de1
    1. Bullinger M. Erfassung der gesundheitsbezogenen Lebensqualität mit dem SF-36 Health Survey. Die Rehabilitation. 1996;35(3):XVII–XXVII; quiz XXVII-XXIX. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8975342.
    1. Bullinger M, Alonso J, Apolone G, Leplège A, Sullivan M, Wood-Dauphinee S, et al. Translating health status questionnaires and evaluating their quality: the IQOLA Project approach. International Quality of Life Assessment. Journal of clinical epidemiology. 1998;51(11):913–23. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9817108.
    1. Hermens HJ, Hägg G, Freriks B. European applications of surface electromyography Sweden1997 [11.03.2014].
    1. Cohen J. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences 2 ed. Hillsdale, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Assoc Inc; 1988. 1988. 567 p.
    1. Perneger TV. What's wrong with Bonferroni adjustments. BMJ. 1998;316(7139):1236–8.
    1. Manchikanti L, Hansen H, Pampati V, Falco FJ. Utilization and growth patterns of sacroiliac joint injections from 2000 to 2011 in the medicare population. Pain Physician. 2013;16(4):E379–90.
    1. Manchikanti L, Helm Ii S, Singh V, Hirsch JA. Accountable interventional pain management: a collaboration among practitioners, patients, payers, and government. Pain physician. 2013;16(6):E635–70. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC24284849.
    1. Spiker WR, Lawrence BD, Raich AL, Skelly AC, Brodke DS. Surgical versus injection treatment for injection-confirmed chronic sacroiliac joint pain. Evid Based Spine Care J. 2012;3(4):41–53. 10.1055/s-0032-1328142
    1. Buchowski JM, Kebaish KM, Sinkov V, Cohen DB, Sieber AN, Kostuik JP. Functional and radiographic outcome of sacroiliac arthrodesis for the disorders of the sacroiliac joint. The spine journal: official journal of the North American Spine Society. 2005;5(5):520–8; discussion 9. 10.1016/j.spinee.2005.02.022 PubMed Central PMCID: PMC16153580.
    1. Beecher HK. The powerful placebo. Journal of the American Medical Association. 1955;159(17):1602–6. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC13271123.
    1. Hróbjartsson A, Gøtzsche PC. Placebo interventions for all clinical conditions. Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online). 2010;(1):CD003974 10.1002/14651858.CD003974.pub3 PubMed Central PMCID: PMC20091554.
    1. Salaffi F, Stancati A, Silvestri CA, Ciapetti A, Grassi W. Minimal clinically important changes in chronic musculoskeletal pain intensity measured on a numerical rating scale. Eur J Pain. 2004;8(4):283–91. 10.1016/j.ejpain.2003.09.004 .
    1. Childs JD, Piva SR, Fritz JM. Responsiveness of the numeric pain rating scale in patients with low back pain. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2005;30(11):1331–4. .
    1. Armijo-Olivo S, Warren S, Fuentes J, Magee DJ. Clinical relevance vs. statistical significance: Using neck outcomes in patients with temporomandibular disorders as an example. Man Ther. 2011;16(6):563–72. 10.1016/j.math.2011.05.006 .
    1. Childs JD, Piva SR, Erhard RE. Immediate improvements in side-to-side weight bearing and iliac crest symmetry after manipulation in patients with low back pain. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics. 2004;27(5):306–13. 10.1016/j.jmpt.2004.04.004 PubMed Central PMCID: PMC15195038.
    1. Kamali F, Shokri E. The effect of two manipulative therapy techniques and their outcome in patients with sacroiliac joint syndrome. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2012;16(1):29–35. 10.1016/j.jbmt.2011.02.002
    1. Matsumoto S, Nakamura K, Ifuku M, Komatsu S, Morita Y, Imai M, et al. [Effect of the sacroiliac ligament block on intractable low back pain in elderly patients]. Masui. 2012;61(9):993–7.
    1. Plastaras CT, Joshi AB, Garvan C, Chimes GP, Smeal W, Rittenberg J, et al. Adverse events associated with fluoroscopically guided sacroiliac joint injections. PM R. 2012;4(7):473–8. 10.1016/j.pmrj.2012.02.001
    1. Al-Khayer A, Hegarty J, Hahn D, Grevitt MP. Percutaneous sacroiliac joint arthrodesis: a novel technique. Journal of spinal disorders & techniques. 2008;21(5):359–63. 10.1097/BSD.0b013e318145ab96 PubMed Central PMCID: PMC18600147.
    1. McGuire R, Chen Z, Donahoe K. Dual fibular allograft dowel technique for sacroiliac joint arthrodesis. Evidence Based Spine Journal. 2002;3(2):21–8.
    1. Wise CL, Dall BE. Minimally invasive sacroiliac arthrodesis: outcomes of a new technique. Journal of spinal disorders & techniques. 2008;21(8):579–84. 10.1097/BSD.0b013e31815ecc4b PubMed Central PMCID: PMC19057252.
    1. Rudolf L, Capobianco R. Five-year clinical and radiographic outcomes after minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion using triangular implants. Open Orthop J. 2014;8:375–83. 10.2174/1874325001408010375
    1. Burnham RS, Yasui Y. An alternate method of radiofrequency neurotomy of the sacroiliac joint: a pilot study of the effect on pain, function, and satisfaction. Regional anesthesia and pain medicine. 2007;32(1):12–9. 10.1016/j.rapm.2006.08.008 PubMed Central PMCID: PMC17196487.
    1. Cohen SP, Hurley RW, Buckenmaier CC, Kurihara C, Morlando B, Dragovich A. Randomized placebo-controlled study evaluating lateral branch radiofrequency denervation for sacroiliac joint pain. Anesthesiology. 2008;109(2):279–88. 10.1097/ALN.0b013e31817f4c7c PubMed Central PMCID: PMC18648237.
    1. Karaman H, Kavak GO, Tufek A, Celik F, Yildirim ZB, Akdemir MS, et al. Cooled radiofrequency application for treatment of sacroiliac joint pain. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2011;153(7):1461–8. 10.1007/s00701-011-1003-8
    1. Roberts SL, Burnham RS, Ravichandiran K, Agur AM, Loh EY. Cadaveric study of sacroiliac joint innervation: implications for diagnostic blocks and radiofrequency ablation. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2014;39(6):456–64. 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000156 .
    1. Cox RC, Fortin JD. The anatomy of the lateral branches of the sacral dorsal rami: implications for radiofrequency ablation. Pain Physician. 2014;17(5):459–64. .
    1. Ashman B, Norvell DC, Hermsmeyer JT. Chronic sacroiliac joint pain: fusion versus denervation as treatment options. Evidence-based spine-care journal. 2010;1(3):35–44. 10.1055/s-0030-1267066 PubMed Central PMCID: PMC22956926.
    1. Guentchev M, Preuss C, Rink R, Peter L, Wocker EL, Tuettenberg J. Technical Note: Treatment of Sacroiliac Joint Pain with Peripheral Nerve Stimulation. Neuromodulation. 2014. 10.1111/ner.12255 .
    1. Patil AA, Otto D, Raikar S. Peripheral nerve field stimulation for sacroiliac joint pain. Neuromodulation. 2014;17(1):98–101. 10.1111/ner.12030
    1. Kim YH, Moon DE. Sacral nerve stimulation for the treatment of sacroiliac joint dysfunction: A case report. Neuromodulation. 2010;13(4):306–10. 10.1111/j.1525-1403.2009.00270.x .
    1. Massoud Arab A, Reza Nourbakhsh M, Mohammadifar A. The relationship between hamstring length and gluteal muscle strength in individuals with sacroiliac joint dysfunction. J Man Manip Ther. 2011;19(1):5–10. 10.1179/106698110X12804993426848
    1. Orakifar N, Kamali F, Pirouzi S, Jamshidi F. Sacroiliac joint manipulation attenuates alpha-motoneuron activity in healthy women: a quasi-experimental study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2012;93(1):56–61. 10.1016/j.apmr.2011.05.027
    1. Herzog W, Conway PJ. Gait analysis of sacroiliac joint patients. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics. 1994;17(2):124–7. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8169541.
    1. Grassi Dde O, de Souza MZ, Ferrareto SB, Montebelo MI, Guirro EC. Immediate and lasting improvements in weight distribution seen in baropodometry following a high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust manipulation of the sacroiliac joint. Man Ther. 2011;16(5):495–500. 10.1016/j.math.2011.04.003
    1. Mendez-Sanchez R, Gonzalez-Iglesias J, Sanchez-Sanchez JL, Puente-Gonzalez AS. Immediate effects of bilateral sacroiliac joint manipulation on plantar pressure distribution in asymptomatic participants. J Altern Complement Med. 2014;20(4):251–7. 10.1089/acm.2013.0192
    1. DePalma MJ, Ketchum JM, Saullo TR. Multivariable analyses of the relationships between age, gender, and body mass index and the source of chronic low back pain. Pain Med. 2012;13(4):498–506. 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2012.01339.x

Source: PubMed

3
Abonner