Uneven Sacroiliac joint?

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sz90168

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My friends horse has just had the physio out to her 5 year old and she physio found he has an uneven sacroiliac joint. Has anyone had any experiences with this? The physio was a bit guarded about the horses future she had some uneven muscle development but the horse is only young. Surely this would develop with time. Horse is 100% sound but a bit weak behind, mare in question is 16.3hh. Any advise/experiences would be greatly appreciated.
 
The physio cannot diagnose, she may be correct but your friend needs a vet for a definitive diagnosis and prognosis, from experience sooner rather than later as if it requires medicating the sooner that gets done the more chance of full recovery.
 
The sacroiliac joint is one of the deepest, most inaccessible joints in the body, and vets can have issues diagnosing problems with it. I can't quite see how a physio can tell that the joint itself is uneven. Sounds very fishy to me.

Physios aren't allowed to diagnose, and the horse should have been seen by a vet beforehand anyway. I'd be straight on the phone to my vet to book investigations, and I'd be telling them the name of this physio, and what he/she had said
 
Ive just had the physio out to my boy, she is also a vet. I may be getting mixrd up here so apologies but my 6 yr old's pelvis is unlevel. I was a bit omg at this, the physio said its not unusual and more horses are unlevel than are. She didnt seem concerned. He also has more muscle development on one side than the other, she has given me exercises to do which involves a lot of pole work in hand and on the lunge.
 
Being blunt, but sacroiliac problems need to be looked at by a vet. As another user has already said - physio shouldn't be the first port of call: the vet should! The vet will probably ultrasound the area and will then be able to suggest appropriate treatment and likely prognosis. Sacroiliac problems can be very painful for the horse and can have serious impact on their working life and therefor need to be treated as soon as possible.
 
The joint just looks slight uneven when looking from behind but horse has never been lame and has a good over track. I will tell her to get in touch with her vet. Thank you for the replies.
 
My horse had an SI injury Vet diagnosed then recommended physio who came. Horse did return to work but was never quite the same retired from competition at 12/13 and now at 15 shows irregular steps now and then. Not lame or sore but Defo not up for any hard work or jumping. Is enjoying life as a happy hacker and teaching novices.
 
As Auslander said - you can't physically see the SI joint so think what physio may have been dscribing was the sacrum/ilium area or croup/jumping bump. My lad has one side higher than the other, it was noted at the vetting but vet was unconcerned as quite common conformationally (what she told me). He never improved his topline over his quarters and after lots of physio/saddle fittings due to having episodes of bucking and being unwilling to canter, vet ultrasound scanned his pelvis and found arthritis and bone spurs on the SI joint. The conclusion being that he had a bash to his pelvis when younger. He also has issues with both hocks and stifles that may or may not be due to compensating for his wonky pelvis. He is now retired.
I would strongly advise a vet out to check things out even if it is just to say there is no issue and put her mind at rest.

ETA - he still has a fantastic overtrack!
 
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What your physio is describing, I think, are the tuber sacrale at the top of the bum. Inequality in height in those often indicates a previous sacroiliac injury. Both my horse and my friend's horse had 'sit down' accidents which caused an injury and left them with uneven tuber sacrale after the SI injury has healed. Neither horse was affected by it, one went on to event affiliated, the other was sound for the next fifteen years that I was in contact with him.

Are the horse's hips level? If not, call a vet. I would probably also call one if the horse is sound but the muscle development does not get progressively more even from now onwards.
 
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