Your therapist may choose from one or more of the following treatment interventions to help control your pain and symptoms. Soft Tissue Mobilization and Massage Physical therapists are trained in many different forms of massage and mobilization when treating the SI joint. Massage has been shown to reduce pain and spasm by helping muscles relax, by bringing in a fresh supply of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood, and by flushing the area of chemical irritants that come from inflammation. Soft tissue treatments can help tight muscles relax, getting them back to a normal length. This will help you begin to move with less pain and greater ease.
Physical therapists have special training in a variety of different ways to mobilize or massage.
These can include gentle strokes, called effleurage, or deeper strokes that work the tissue more heavily, called petrissage. Strain-counterstrain is a type of therapy that is especially helpful when tender points are causing muscles to restrict movement. The treatment is usually done in a way that the muscle is put in a special position, usually where the muscle is shortest. Your therapist may place your muscle in a certain position and then direct you to use your muscles against the therapist's force. These are graded pressures and movements that are done by skilled physical therapists.