Spine
Sacroiliac Joint
Evidence: confirmed
SI Joint Compression Test Special Test
Orthopedic Physical Examination & Clinical Assessment Guide
What is it used for?
- Provocation test for SI Joint Pain.
How to Perform
- Position: Patient side-lying (painful side up).
- Action: Examiner applies a downward vertical force on the iliac crest (compressing the pelvis).
Interpretation of Results
- Positive Test: Reproduction of SI joint pain.
Diagnostic Accuracy
- Part of Laslett Cluster (Sensitivity: 69%).
Clinical Context & Limitations
The SI Joint Compression Test should be considered as one component of a comprehensive musculoskeletal assessment. No single special test has perfect diagnostic accuracy; thus, clinical decision-making should integrate test results with patient-reported symptoms, mechanism of injury, functional impairment, and relevant imaging.
Clinicians should be aware of potential false-positive results in patients with pain sensitisation, muscle guarding, or poor relaxation. For the Spine region, combining the SI Joint Compression Test with complementary examination tests significantly improves overall diagnostic confidence.
References
- Laslett, M. (2008). Evidence-Based Diagnosis of SIJ Pain.
