Many relevant diagnostic signs are not performed deliberately by the examiner or by the patient at the examiner’s direction. They are observed as the patient reacts to their condition. Fortin’s finger sign, Minor’s sign, and Vanzetti’s sign are three examples of this principle.
Breath and the Sacroiliac Joint
Motion and visual analysis of the sacroiliac joint can be performed in relation to inhalation, exhalation, and uncontrolled breathing. Testing can be done using two procedures:
- seated trunk-forward flexion;
- standing bent-knee raise.
During forced held exhalation, there is no sacroiliac motion during flexion. Exhalation prevents anterior superior ilium motion during forward flexion.
Using the standing bent-knee raise during normal breathing allows posterior inferior (PI) ilium motion with forced held inhalation; the ilium will not rotate posteriorly with a knee raise. It will, however, rotate posteriorly with forced held exhalation during a knee raise.
To summarize:
- Forced and held inhalation promotes AS ilium motion during trunk-forward flexion, and prevents PI ilium motion with the knee raise.
- Forced and held exhalation prevents AS ilium motion during trunk flexion, and promotes PI ilium motion with the knee raise.
Joseph D. Kurnik, DC
Torrance, California