Traction: One of the best things you can do for yourself in the pool

Hey everyone, So, the really great thing about water exercise is that it allows you to strengthen the muscles that support the SIJ without putting additional strain on your ligaments. However… As if that wasn’t enough, the pool offers some additional benefits you can’t get from any other form of exercise. The most important move I do in the pool is to let my legs hang … Continue reading Traction: One of the best things you can do for yourself in the pool

Christy CollinsJune 7, 2017July 6, 2021Leave a comment

Aquatic Exercise, For Patients, My Writing, Resources

What’s so awesome about aquatic therapy?

It’s a great way to build muscular strength without negatively impacting your SI joints. Basically, if you have an SI joint injury, you have likely sprained the ligaments that are supposed to hold the joint in place. The only way around this is to build up enough muscle strength around the joint that your muscles are able to hold things in place more. In … Continue reading What’s so awesome about aquatic therapy?

Christy CollinsJune 6, 2017July 18, 20214 Comments

Anatomy, For Patients, Joint Anatomy, My Writing, Resources

Labral tears

Hip labral tears are a condition that can sometimes accompany sacroiliac joint dysfunction. The labrum is a ring of cartilage found within the hip socket. Its main purpose is to absorb shock, as well as to help make sure your leg bone fits snugly inside the hip socket. Cartilage is generally pretty tough, but sometimes it can become injured. There are many different potential causes, according … Continue reading Labral tears

Christy CollinsFebruary 12, 2017June 5, 202212 Comments

My Story

In the Woods

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

Christy CollinsDecember 29, 2016January 1, 2017Leave a comment

Anatomy, My Writing, Resources

Tight muscles can mimic SI joint dysfunction

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

Christy CollinsOctober 27, 2016July 2, 20216 Comments

My Story, My Writing

The point I’m at now: When muscle strength finally takes over for weak ligaments

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

Christy CollinsOctober 15, 2016November 13, 2017Leave a comment

For Patients, My Story, My Writing

The SI joint is like a puzzle

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

Christy CollinsSeptember 17, 2016November 16, 20242 Comments