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

For Patients, My Story, My Writing

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 of my SI joints locked up, in 2011, it was a … Continue reading So, it turns out I wasn’t crazy…

Christy CollinsMay 29, 2017July 3, 20216 Comments

For Medical Professionals, Manual Therapy, Physical Therapy, Professional Guides, Resources, women's health

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

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 therapy clinical research, is APTA board-certified in orthopedics, and is a Fellow … Continue reading Evidence-Based Examination and Treatment of the Pelvis (Continuing Education for PT’s)

Christy CollinsApril 9, 2017July 3, 2021Leave a comment

My Story, My Writing

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 trying to recover from my first injury– than its own new … Continue reading Post-Fall Update, Part 3

Christy CollinsApril 3, 2017April 3, 2017Leave a comment

For Patients, My Story, My Writing, Resources

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, stretching them out. A similar fall, I believe, is what caused … Continue reading Facing one of my worst fears: a potential reinjury

Christy CollinsMarch 16, 2017March 17, 20171 Comment

For Patients, My Writing, Resources

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

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 involves an injection of special substances into the specific area you want … Continue reading What is Prolotherapy? (and why I didn’t end up having it).

Christy CollinsMarch 11, 2017June 27, 20174 Comments

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

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 intended to move very much. In fact, it’s one of those … Continue reading The Pubic Symphysis: the joint at the front of the pelvis

Christy CollinsFebruary 22, 2017August 6, 2022Leave a comment

Anatomy, Joint Anatomy, My Writing, Resources, SI Joint Concepts

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 bones and the sacrum). According to Physiopedia, “The sacrum and the … Continue reading SI Joint Concepts: Form Closure vs. Force Closure

Christy CollinsFebruary 13, 2017July 2, 2020Leave a comment

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