Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1481961
L i s te n to T h e A B M P Po d c a s t a t a b m p.co m /p o d c a s t s o r w h e reve r yo u a cce s s yo u r favo r i te p o d c a s t s 31 2 3 4 The ilia's slight rotation (or "torsion") at the SIJ is key to these joints' role as shock absorbers, and as a firm but adaptable connection between the legs and the spine. For clearer visibility, this illustration depicts a movement range of 10 degrees, which is the median value of various studies' findings of angular movement that vary from 1–18 degrees as maximum ranges. Most people probably have between 1 and 4 degrees of torsion. 1 Original image courtesy Anatomy Standard (publishers of the Biomechanics of the Spine app), used with permission. The anterior torsion technique uses slight hip extension (note the bolstering of the client's left knee) to assess the comfort and availability of anterior ilia torsion (large arrow). Meanwhile, I'm using a slight downward (caudal) stabilizing counterpressure on the sacrum (small arrow) to isolate the movement at the SIJ and keep the lumbar spine comfortably long. In the posterior torsion technique, I use hip flexion (lower arrow) and downward (caudal) pressure on same-side ilium at the posterior superior iliac spine, or PSIS (upper arrow), to check for comfort and mobility of posterior torsion at the SIJ. In both this and the anterior technique, once we find a comfortable but interesting level of sensation, we linger, breathe, and relax, since the goal is normalizing sensation and resetting protective responses. Ilia Torsion Techniques Indications: • Sensitivity or stiffness felt in the sacroiliac joints, low back, pelvis, gluteals, or hip joints; or with flexing, extending, running, lunging, or stepping Purpose: • Decrease sensitivity, refine proprioception, and increase options for sagittal plane ("torsion") adaptability at the sacroiliac joints Instructions: 1. Gently use the positions pictured in Images 3 and 4 to check for sensitivity, client-reported stiffness, or pain. 2. Find the comfortable threshold for the client, where the sensation of interest is barely present and is still comfortably tolerable. 3. Encourage your client to breathe, relax, and give you feedback about the amount of pressure and stretch you apply. Linger until you feel a settling, relaxation, or shift, or until your client feels complete. 4. Repeat in both directions, on each side. For detailed discussions about working with the SIJ, check out episodes 3 and 74 of The Thinking Practitioner podcast with Til Luchau and Whitney Lowe, sponsored by ABMP.