Role of Manual Therapy in the Evaluation and Treatment of a Surgically Stabilized Pelvis

Mark D. Beissel

Physical therapists face many challenges in the evaluation and treatment of the sacroiliac and pubic symphysis joint complex. Unfortunately, there is no agreement on a unified system of testing, interpreting, and treating the sacroiliac joint under normal or pathologic conditions. When trauma to the pelvis results in its surgical stabilization, therapists must be especially mindful of safety issues in developing treatment protocols. In this resident's case problem, we present a patient with a surgically stabilized pelvis who showed signs and symptoms of sacroiliac dysfunction. Manual therapy evaluation techniques are described that lead to a diagnosis that will guide physical therapy treatment, and mobilization is used to achieve an anatomic position, relieve pain, and allow sacroiliac joint motion as determined by clinical examination and testing.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2000;30(8):453-467.

Key Words: sacroiliac joint, fusion, stabilization

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