Category: Physical Therapy

exercise, Physical Therapy, Resources

When you’re in it for the long haul: Isometric Exercises

Hi everyone! How are you all doing? Interesting times we’re living in, to say the least. I haven’t been on my blogs as much recently, because I’ve been pretty busy volunteering for the Covid-19 effort. I’ve been lucky to find ways to help from home (most recently, making phone calls and doing outreach for GetUsPPE— a really great organization!). However, today I wanted to check … Continue reading When you’re in it for the long haul: Isometric Exercises

Unknown's avatarChristy Collins2 Comments
ligaments, Pain Science, Physical Therapy, Resources

When should you take painkillers and push through pain?

Hi everyone! This post was inspired by a conversation I had with a reader in our SI Joint Saga Discussion group. This reader asked for my thoughts on her new exercise plan from a physical therapist.  She had SI joint issues as well as sciatica, which sent pain down into her hamstrings (the muscles in the back of the thigh). She had been told by … Continue reading When should you take painkillers and push through pain?

Unknown's avatarChristy CollinsLeave a comment
For Patients, Physical Therapy, Resources, Strengthening

A great exercise to try: Isometric Glute Squeezes

Hi everyone– In this post, I want to talk about a very easy and gentle way to start strengthening the gluteus maximus. Most of us are familiar with this muscle– it’s the largest muscle that makes up our butt cheeks!  (Just calling it what it is!). This muscle is really important to stabilizing the SI joints, because it’s right there, and it’s responsible for many of the … Continue reading A great exercise to try: Isometric Glute Squeezes

Unknown's avatarChristy Collins2 Comments
Athletic Training, Physical Therapy, Professional Guides, Resources

Cool continuing education course for PT’s on the SI joint

Hi, everyone!  Happy Monday. I hope you found my series on how to find a good physical therapist useful.  I know it isn’t necessarily an issue all of you are currently struggling with.  However, it’s a question that’s come up so often in my emails from readers recently that I thought it would be good to put it out there. For my next post, I … Continue reading Cool continuing education course for PT’s on the SI joint

Unknown's avatarChristy Collins2 Comments
My Writing, Physical Therapy, Resources

How to find a good physical therapist, Part 4: Search tips

1. Online search tips I eventually found my physical therapist Paula, who listed SI joint dysfunction as one of her specialties, through a simple Google search.  I typed in “sacroiliac joint physical therapist” and then the name of the town next to me (which was much larger and busier than the town I actually lived in). Paula’s name popped up, through her company website.  Sounds … Continue reading How to find a good physical therapist, Part 4: Search tips

Unknown's avatarChristy CollinsLeave a comment
For Patients, Personal Stories, Physical Therapy, Resources

How to find a good physical therapist, Part 3: Find someone with experience in treating the SI joint

Well, it sounds pretty obvious when I write it now.  But back in 2011, when I first developed this problem, it wasn’t so clear. Find a PT who actually knows how to treat the SI joint.  Because most of them don’t. I didn’t understand this at the time.  I figured anyone with a PT license ought to be able to treat me.  What I didn’t … Continue reading How to find a good physical therapist, Part 3: Find someone with experience in treating the SI joint

Unknown's avatarChristy Collins4 Comments
For Patients, My Story, My Writing, Physical Therapy

How to find a good physical therapist, Part 2: Thinking creatively

Hi everyone! In my last post, I gave you a run down of the process of all the different physical therapists I saw before I found Paula, the PT who finally helped me. And I just wanted to reiterate one piece from that story in a separate post, which was this: When I found the one person I truly had the strong belief would be … Continue reading How to find a good physical therapist, Part 2: Thinking creatively

Unknown's avatarChristy CollinsLeave a comment
For Patients, My Story, My Writing, Physical Therapy

How to find a good physical therapist, Part 1: Persistence

One of the questions people ask me most frequently is “How do I find a physical therapist who can treat the SI joint?” Unfortunately, the answer to this question is almost as complicated as my answers to any of the more scientific questions people ask me. I thought I’d break everything I’ve learned about this into bite-sized pieces.  So, the first topic is persistence: I … Continue reading How to find a good physical therapist, Part 1: Persistence

Unknown's avatarChristy CollinsLeave a comment
Manual Therapy, Muscle Energy Technique, Physical Therapy, Resources

Finally, a decent video of someone using the Muscle Energy Technique for the SI joint!

I couldn’t believe I stumbled upon this video tonight… apparently it was posted in 2012. This is only useful video of someone using the Muscle Energy Technique (MET) for the SI joint I’ve seen so far.  It’s from Jon Schumacher. Compared to all the others I’ve sifted through over the years, this video actually illustrates the principles that I use (thank you Jon!). As I … Continue reading Finally, a decent video of someone using the Muscle Energy Technique for the SI joint!

Unknown's avatarChristy Collins8 Comments
Chiropractors, Manual Therapy, Physical Therapy, Resources

What I think chiropractic has to offer

My friend Paul briefly dated a chiropractor once, a few years ago.  We all went out to dinner one night and I basically asked her as many questions as I could about what it was like to be a chiropractor without crossing the line into being annoying.  (At least, I hope I didn’t cross the line!). I was just so curious– after all the chiropractors I’ve … Continue reading What I think chiropractic has to offer

Unknown's avatarChristy CollinsLeave a comment