Myofascial release versus sacroiliac joint mobilization for sacroiliac joint pain in women

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Mobilization and Myofascial Release Techniques on Pain, Postural Control, and Spinal Mobility in Patients With Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

This trial tests whether adding myofascial release or sacroiliac joint mobilization to a standard physical therapy program helps reduce pain and improve function in women aged 18–65 with sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 42 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 65 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Center, Kirşehi̇r)
• Trial ID: NCT07310368 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a prospective, randomized controlled trial enrolling women aged 18–65 with sacroiliac joint dysfunction and a pain score of at least 3 on the VAS. All participants receive the same traditional physical therapy program (stabilization/strengthening exercises and therapeutic ultrasound) three times per week for six weeks, and are randomly assigned to receive either myofascial release targeting paraspinal and hip muscles or sacroiliac joint mobilizations in addition to that program. Outcomes include pain intensity, spinal mobility, postural control, and functional status measured before and after the intervention period. Randomization and identical base therapy are intended to isolate the effect of the manual therapy technique used.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Women age 18–65 diagnosed with sacroiliac joint dysfunction by international criteria, reporting localized sacroiliac-region pain with VAS ≥3 and at least three positive sacroiliac provocation tests are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People with prior spine/pelvis/lower extremity surgery, lumbar disc herniation or spinal stenosis, hip joint acute pathology, alternative pain sources (e.g., piriformis syndrome), or known central/peripheral nervous system disease are unlikely to benefit or are excluded.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the study could identify which manual therapy technique gives better pain relief and functional improvement when added to standard physical therapy for women with sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

How similar studies have performed: Manual therapy has shown benefit in some small trials and clinical reports for sacroiliac pain, but direct head-to-head comparisons between myofascial release and joint mobilization remain limited and inconclusive.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Being a female individual between the ages of 18 and 65.
* Having been diagnosed with sacroiliac joint dysfunction (according to the International Association for the Study of Pain criteria).
* Having localized pain in the sacroiliac joint region and pain that may radiate to the hip, groin, or lower extremities.
* Positivity in at least 3 out of 5 sacroiliac joint-specific provocation tests (Vorlauf, Gillet, irritation point positivity, posterior shear test, compression test).
* Pain intensity of ≥3 as assessed by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
* Volunteering to participate in the study and providing written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of surgery involving the spine, pelvis, or lower extremities.
* Presence of lumbar disc herniation, spinal stenosis, or acute pathologies of the hip joint.
* Diagnosis of piriformis syndrome or low back/hip pain originating from sources other than the sacroiliac joint.
* Known central or peripheral nervous system disease or progressive neurological deficit.
* History of rheumatological disease (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, etc.).
* Pregnancy or the presence of a serious systemic disease that could prevent participation in the study.

Where this trial is running

Center, Kirşehi̇r

• Kirşehir Ahi Evran University — Center, Kirşehi̇r, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Şafak KUZU, PhD

Conditions Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction; Mobilization; myofascial release