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
Hi everyone! I’ve just discovered the most moving and informative story of one woman’s four-year quest to resolve debilitating pelvic pain. It’s from Megan McGorry, and her blog is Mermaid’s Reel. There are SO many reasons why I wanted to share this with you. Really, her post speaks for herself. But for the purposes of learning about the SI joint, I wanted to draw your … Continue reading Megan’s Story: “Not Interstitial Cystitis, PNE, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, or Vulvodynia, but an Orthopedic Hip Injury?”
Hi everyone! Today I wanted to talk to you about another concept I find really interesting, which is how the alignment of our SI joints affects the efficiency of our movements. What is movement efficiency? When you move efficiently, this means you’re performing various motions in a smooth, coordinated way, which allows you to achieve maximum results. Athletes train for movement efficiency, because it means … Continue reading How the SI Joint affects Movement Efficiency
Hi everyone– I was sorting though old papers recently when I came across the original instructions my physical therapist Paula wrote out for me on the Muscle Energy Technique, back in 2014. A lot of people have asked me about her original instructions, as I’ve been running this blog. I think people want to know how she taught me, and in what way, and what … Continue reading Proof that healing is possible
Hi everyone! Generally, when people think of the core, they think of doing sit-ups, and crunches, and building up a 6-pack. All of that has to do with the first muscle I’m going to mention here: the rectus abdominis. However, there is so much more to the core than that. 1) The rectus abdominis: The “6-pack” muscle; flexes the trunk. The rectus abdominis is the most … Continue reading The muscles of the core (and why we focus on the transverse abdominis!).
Hi everyone! Here’s a subject that’s been coming up a lot recently, which I always take as a sign it’s time to get an official post up! What I wanted to talk to you about today is the topic of lidocaine and cortisone injections for the SI joints. These are the injections that a specialist, such as an orthopedist or a physiatrist, will typically offer … Continue reading SI Joint Injections, Part 1: Lidocaine
Hi everyone! I just happened to stumble across this fascinating article from Marc Heller, DC, about how he doesn’t think the chiropractic profession adequately manages SI joint dysfunction. (It’s from the 2015 issue of the magazine Dynamic Chiropractic). I wanted to share it with you all because it echoes some of the same points I’ve made here, about how too many chiropractic adjustments can further … Continue reading A chiropractor explains why he doesn’t believe adjustments can heal SI joint dysfunction
Hi everyone! Hope you’re all enjoying the holidays. I’ve been getting some really great questions from readers recently that I think are worth sharing with you all. *** I recently heard from G., who was wondering it was okay to perform aquatic exercise when her SI joints and sacrum were out of alignment. (She goes to an osteopath, who is able to put her joints … Continue reading Reader question: Is it okay to work out in a pool if your SI joints are out of alignment?
Hello everyone! I hear from a lot of people who say that sitting is one of their worst problems, wanting to know if this was a significant issue for me as well. My answer here is two–fold. First, I’ll answer you based on my own experience, and then address why it might be so painful for some of my readers. For me personally: Whether or … Continue reading Why sitting can be painful with SI joint dysfunction
Hi everyone! I am totally grateful to longtime reader Julie, who emailed me yesterday about her own experience consulting a doctor for prolotherapy. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the concept, prolotherapy is a relatively new form of treatment in which a special solution consisting mainly of sugar is injected into the ligaments of an injured joint. This solution isn’t toxic, but it … Continue reading Why Julie decided to pursue prolotherapy
My Sacroiliac Joint Saga 