A Decentration Theory for functional joint block: functional changes at the hip joint with pelvic dysfunction and the coccygeal syndrome.

Abstract

Patients suffering from a pelvic dysfunction (fixed pelvic nutation) which also exhibited hypertonus of pelvic floor muscles (usually on the right side) were manually examined to investigate the functional state of their hip joints. We were interested in ranges of movement up to the physiological barriers in individual directions, and in the magnitude of joint play between the physiological and anatomical barriers and in tone of the muscles providing these individual movements. Finally, we compared the results on both sides of body before and after treatment by post-isometric relaxation of pelvic floor muscles per rectum. The results show interesting differences in mechanical behaviour comparing the two hip joints. The differences relate to ranges of individual movements (flexion, extension,…), magnitudes of joint play beyond the physiological barriers and distribution of muscle tonus around the joints. The results allow us to generalize and to introduce a new common view of typical signs of functional joint block.

Key words:

• pelvic dysfunction
• hip joint
• functional joint block