The SI joint is mainly held together by bands of connective tissue known as ligaments. These ligaments hold the sacrum (base of the spine) and the ilia (hip bones) together to make up the two sacroiliac joints. Here are some diagrams which give you a general view of what the ligaments look like: An injury to the SI joint will generally involve an injury … Continue reading The ligaments of the SI joint
So I tested my SI joints today in a way that I haven’t since I injured them: I went for a hike, not in my regular shoes, but in my actual winter boots. They were still relatively new and had that just-out-of-the-box feeling– in other words, they were kind of stiff. And I pushed myself. I charged up hills, I gingerly balanced my way down … Continue reading In the Woods
Every time I write this, I’m afraid I’ll jinx myself. But my SI joints are still in place. They haven’t moved out of place since May (my first San Francisco trip). Since then, I have begun to do more and more. I’ve even run, at times, though it hasn’t been any more than a few strides crossing the street in a hurry. But still, that’s something– … Continue reading Still stable/what we can heal from.
Now that my SI joints themselves are actually staying stable (thank God!) I can begin to identify other factors that may have been contributing to my pain, and causing my sense of being off-kilter, all along. What I’m referring to specifically in this post is tightness in the muscles of the lower back. When these muscles are tight they can pull on the spine … Continue reading Tight muscles can mimic SI joint dysfunction
Hey everyone, These are some common terms relating to the SI joint which, unfortunately, can be very confusing to a lot of people. Let’s clear them up! The words hypermobile and hypomobile can be used in a few different ways to describe the SI joint, or any joint in the body. Let’s start by talking about what these words actually mean. Hypomobility refers to a … Continue reading SI Joint Concepts: Hypomobility and Hypermobility
So, I think I’m finally at the point in my recovery that seemed like a dream when people first described it to me five years ago: The point at which I’d finally develop enough muscle strength to make up for the fact that the ligaments that are supposed to hold my SI joint together have been stretched out, and are no longer doing their job. It’s funny … Continue reading The point I’m at now: When muscle strength finally takes over for weak ligaments
For me, the process of figuring out my SI joints has had to be very intellectual. The movement patterns of the sacroiliac joints are some of the most complex in the body. It wasn’t a matter of simply doing my exercises and getting stronger, because this joint is like a puzzle. The SI joint reminds me of those old metal “tavern puzzles” they made in … Continue reading The SI joint is like a puzzle
Dr. Barbara Hungerford is a physiotherapist practicing in Australia where she founded the educational group Advanced Manual Therapy Associates. She completed a Ph.D. on the “altered pelvic biomechanics and muscle recruitment patterns associated with pelvic dysfunction.” Now, Dr. Hungerford runs educational courses for medical professionals such as physical therapists and osteopaths on what is called manual therapy, which basically means hands-on treatment. (The muscle energy … Continue reading Dr. Barbara Hungerford & Advanced Manual Therapy Associates
I can attribute two original factors to how I developed my SI joint injury, and a third factor that kept it going on for so long: Factor #1: Abnormal Movement Patterns Over Time It all started in the fall of 2011. I had actually been having very significant knee pain due to chondromalacia patella, a condition involving inflammation in the knee. For a few months, … Continue reading How did I first injure my SI joint?
My Sacroiliac Joint Saga 