Once Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction has been diagnosed and stabilized, a key to recovery is a consistent, thorough exercise program that both the clinician and patient can understand and exceute. In the final installment of this series on S-I Joint Dysfunction, PT Tim Highland, assisted by former Champion Fitness patient Amy Eicher (http://www.restoringvenus.com/), explains and demonstrates a very basic set of exercises that can be done at home. With proper guidance and a determined effort, following this plan will help alleviate the problems caused by the S-I Joint.
Twenty years ago, Amy Eicher was a swimmer at Illinois State, fulfilling a life-long dream of performing at the college level. After a series of tough meets and overtraining leading to a sore back among other ailments, the squad was put through a hard practice. During sprints, she hit a turn, tried to push off the wall like she had done hundreds of times before, and SNAP!—she couldn’t finish the turn. She lay there in the water…in “blinding pain,” as she put it.
Trainers tried ice aand stretching…a sports orthopedist thought she had a bone broken in her spine…or some type of arthritis. X-rays, bone scans, and MRIs—all came back clean! Must be in her head…can’t find anything wrong!!! Despite treatments and massage, the spasms continue….and the pain!
That’s the beginning of Amy’s story in a nutshell. But it didn’t end there…lots more trials, tribulations, and pain. You can read the rest on her website and blog (http://www.restoringvenus.com/). Part of her story includes PT Tim Highland who felt others like her could benefit from a thorough discussion of sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Here is the first of a three-part series covering the S-I joint. In this segment, Tim explains the S-I joint and ways to assess this problem area.
