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 moveContinueContinue reading “Traction: One of the best things you can do for yourself in the pool”

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 yourContinueContinue reading “What’s so awesome about aquatic therapy?”

So, it turns out I wasn’t crazy…

Hey everyone, I was just working on revamping the “My Story” page for this blog, and I ended up reflecting on one aspect of this saga which I really haven’t talked about as much: How totally and completely crazy I felt when I was first trying to get help for this problem. The first time one ofContinueContinue reading “So, it turns out I wasn’t crazy…”

Evidence-Based Examination and Treatment of the Pelvis (Continuing Education for PT’s)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L78tfhUmjQ Hey everyone, I recently stumbled upon this fascinating-looking course: Evidence-Based Examination and Treatment of the Pelvis through Medbridge Education.  It’s a continuing education course for physical therapists who want to be able to treat SIJ pain. It’s given by Dr. Alexis Wright, who has a pretty impressive resume.  She has a Ph.D. in physical therapyContinueContinue reading “Evidence-Based Examination and Treatment of the Pelvis (Continuing Education for PT’s)”

Post-Fall Update, Part 3

Okay, it’s been officially three weeks since my fall on the ice, and I think it’s safe to say that this episode is resolving without turning into the dramatic re-injury that I feared. It is more a blip on the radar– the kind of setback I had from time to time for years while tryingContinueContinue reading “Post-Fall Update, Part 3”

Facing one of my worst fears: a potential reinjury

Well, I knew it had to come eventually– the day I slipped and fell on ice, and landed on my butt. Blunt force to the SI joints, particularly if it’s asymmetric, is known to be a potential cause of injury.  That’s because it can subject the ligaments to greater force than they can handle, stretchingContinueContinue reading “Facing one of my worst fears: a potential reinjury”

What is Prolotherapy? (and why I didn’t end up having it).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NsgU4FVYOA A reader asked me if I’d ever had prolotherapy yesterday, and since I’ve been meaning to write about it for a while, now seems like the right time to put this out there! What is prolotherapy? Prolotherapy is a relatively new form of treatment, meant to speed the healing of sprained ligaments. It involvesContinueContinue reading “What is Prolotherapy? (and why I didn’t end up having it).”

The Pubic Symphysis: the joint at the front of the pelvis

Hey everyone, If you’re experiencing SI joint dysfunction, the pubic symphysis is another important joint to be aware of. The pubic symphysis is actually the third major joint that makes up what is often referred to as the pelvic ring, or pelvic circle. Everything is connected. Like the SI joints, the pubic symphysis isn’t intendedContinueContinue reading “The Pubic Symphysis: the joint at the front of the pelvis”

SI Joint Concepts: Form Closure vs. Force Closure

Here is a really important concept about the SI joint: How is an SI joint supposed to stay in place? The body has 2 main systems to maintain stability in the SI joint: Form closure and force closure. 1) Form closure has to do with the shape of the bones that make up the SI joint (the two hip bonesContinueContinue reading “SI Joint Concepts: Form Closure vs. Force Closure”

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 itContinueContinue reading “Labral tears”