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—Continue reading “When you’re in it for the long haul: Isometric Exercises”

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 inContinue reading “When should you take painkillers and push through pain?”

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 SIContinue reading “A great exercise to try: Isometric Glute Squeezes”

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 goodContinue reading “Cool continuing education course for PT’s on the SI joint”

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 livedContinue reading “How to find a good physical therapist, Part 4: Search tips”

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

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 theContinue reading “How to find a good physical therapist, Part 2: Thinking creatively”

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 thisContinue reading “How to find a good physical therapist, Part 1: Persistence”

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

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!).Continue reading “What I think chiropractic has to offer”