Welcome back to this week’s edition of 2-Minute Tuesdays where we are talking about one exercise topic for two minutes and giving you three reasons why you should follow our advice. Now this week, we are talking to those of you who are experiencing some issues in you SI joint. Maybe you are having pain in your low back or upper hip area when you sit. Or perhaps walking is creating a discomfort right around the top of your glutes. What can you do with your exercise to make sure the issue doesn’t get worse and possibly help it out, as well?
1) Keep The Muscles That Control The SI Joint Strong
Exercise Tip Number One If You Are Having SI Joint Issues: Keep the muscles that control the SI joint strong. You may not often think about the muscles the cross and control the SI joint, but there are a bunch of them. By including exercises that will strengthen these muscles, your SI joint can be better-supported and potentially take on less stress.
Action Step: Start including exercises that strengthen your core muscles, including your low back muscles, as well as your hip muscles, such as your glutes, hamstrings, hip abductors, and hip adductors.
Related: Hip Ab/Adduction Machine – 3 Reasons Why You Need To Be Using This.
2) Do Not Do Exercises That Are Causing Pain
Exercise Tip Number Two If You Are Having SI Joint Issues: Do not do exercises that are causing pain. This is not a “no pain, no gain” situation. When you are exercising, focus on doing exercises that don’t create pain. Utilize resources around you to help teach you how to do different exercises so you can continue to strengthen your muscles without furthering your SI joint issues.
Action Step: Download our FREE 5-Minute Mobility Check to learn how to start assessing your body and create a workout for your body’s needs!
Related: What makes a Muscle Activation Techniques® practitioner unique?
3) Connect With Your Local MAT® Specialist
Exercise Tip Number Three If You Are Having SI Joint Issues: Reach out and connect with your local MAT® Specialist. One commonality among people with SI joint issues is they have often seen practitioners who have addressed the SI joint area. But, there are often other mechanical issues that need to be addressed throughout the body, such as in the feet, knees, hips, and low back areas that rarely get addressed during standard SI joint care. By scheduling with your local MAT® Specialist, your body will get assessed to see what other areas may be contributing to your SI joint issues that were not addressed up to this point.
Action Step: Find a certified MAT® practitioner in your area here! And if you would like to learn more about MAT® download our free eBook on MAT® at MAS here!