Prevalence of Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction Across Different Populations: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background and aim of the study:
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is the common cause of low back pain. Therefore; there is a need for study that discusses its increasing incidence or prevalence rate so that early identification can be made to improve treatment planning and patient outcomes.
Methodology:
This systematic review encompasses studies on the prevalence of sacroiliac joint dysfunction among patients with low back pain, athletes, and asymptomatic populations. The PubMed, Cochrane, and PEDro databases were searched using the Boolean operators “AND” and “OR”. Hoy's risk of bias tool used for assessing risk of bias.
Result:
A total of 20 studies were included: 11 on lower back pain, 5 on athletes, and 4 on the asymptomatic population. The overall prevalence rate of sacroiliac joint dysfunction was 2% to 72.3% (low back pain:14.5%-72.3%, athletes:2.5%-54.3%, asymptomatic:20%-65.1%). The most common diagnostic method used to assess the prevalence rate among all types of studies was the sacroiliac joint pain provocation test.
Conclusion:
The SIJ is a significant cause of pain in all populations with different age groups. The prevalence rate of SIJD is significantly high, especially in the low back pain population, indicating that SIJD may be a significant contributing factor for LBP.