I really recommend to the majority of readers that they try to find a good physical therapist with experience in treating the SI joint. I think it’s the best thing you can do for yourself, especially if you can find someone who’s able to teach you to align your joints yourself, using the Muscle Energy Technique.
I personally think this is a much better way to go than chiropractic adjustments, which in my experience, can actually be too rough for the SI joint ligaments. Although chiropractic adjustments can put your joint into the proper alignment in the short-term, I have found that they can actually make it harder for your ligaments to heal, meaning the joint won’t really stabilize.
I only got better once a PT showed me how to use the Muscle Energy Technique, and I was able to stop receiving chiropractic adjustments to the SI joints.
Unfortunately, I know it can be easier said than done to find a PT with experience, which is why I have written the following posts. Hopefully these can help you find your way:
How to find a good physical therapist:
- Persistence
- Thinking creatively
- Find someone with experience in treating the SIJ
- Search tips
- The PT’s I observed as a student
SI joint adjustments by a physical therapist:
- What is manual therapy?
- When a Physical Therapist performs an SI joint adjustment, you should feel an improvement right away.
- My appointment with a PT certified in Orthopedic Manual Therapy
Stabilizing the SI joint ligaments:
- Ligaments of the SI joint
- Ways to stabilize your ligaments: strengthening, SI joint belts, and belting techniques (these are some things a physical therapist might show you)
Key concepts I learned from my awesome physical therapist, Paula (these are taken from my larger series, Key Points of My Recovery):
- Key Point #4: Muscular Strength vs. Endurance
- Key Point #5: Developing a Thorough Stretching Routine
- Key Point #7: Learning to adjust my own SI joints
The goals of successful physical therapy:
- How I healed my SI joints without surgery: basically, it’s a balancing act between building up your muscle strength, while letting your ligaments heal
- How it all finally came together: talks about some of the things I had to learn, both psychological and physical
- The goal of strengthening is to maximize your body’s support system (sometimes SI joint adjustments are necessary, but the goal is to get strong enough that you don’t need them!).
More on physical therapy:
- Evidence-Based Examination and Treatment of the Pelvis with Dr. Alexis Wright (a fascinating-looking continuing education course for PT’s who want to know more about the SI joint).
- Madden PT: 3 Steps to Permanent Relief
- Vicki Sims & Gainesville Physical Therapy
And of course, for further info you can check out my pages on:
Hope this helps!
