Sacroiliac belt for low back pain

So that I don’t further hijack Christina Fs post, I will start a new one. This is the belt I have used for maybe 15 months. I injured my back 30+ years ago as a truck loader (night job in college). It was diagnosed as a sacroiliac sprain. It has dogged me for years, flaring up with sometimes no explanation. I have particular problems with sitting for long periods, or classic cross country skiing (skate skiing is fine).

My Pilates instructor did a little test one day where she gently compressed my hip bones when my back was flared up, and it gave me some relief. She then suggested this type of belt.

Unlike some of the traditional elastic back braces that I have used which support the abdomen, using an SI belt does not weaken any muscles. It seems to just mechanically give a bit of space to an area of the SI joint that can compress and cause pain. I don’t have a medical background, so can’t explain the exact process or when this is indicated. But a non-invasive, fairly inexpensive item was worth a try, and I have had really good results.

It hasn’t fixed my back, but it protects it in some circumstance that typically cause big flare ups. I hope this info helps any YLFers who have similar issues.

This link describes the one I use shown in the find below. They seem to run somewhat larger than the size description on the amazon find
https://www.serola.net/serola-sacroiliac-belt

Amazon

Serola Sacroiliac Hip Belt, Medium

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6 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

Thank you for the link and the description!

I have scoliosis in my low spine. It flares up without warning, etc. I am going to check this out!

Anonymous

Useful and interesting information. Thank you for sharing.

I have used this belt as well. I have some hip issues over the years from overstretched hip ligaments and this belt, when worn around my hips, provided stability when I was playing tennis or walking. My physiotherapist provided strengthening exercises as well and as the muscles in my lower back and hips strengthened I found I no longer needed to wear this belt.

3style

Karen13, thanks for your information. I’m the one who was asking. My PT thinks I might be ready to move from Pilates based PT to straight up Pilates. Is that what you did in the past? Any tips on choosing an instructor? Thanks again.

karen13

3style -mine is also more the PT -based Pilates, so I’m in the same boat. I have been hesitant to move to the traditional classes because I have hurt myself in those situations at times in the past. I have taken a break from classes for 6 months as life and travel schedule has been hectic, so I hope to get back into it in the fall.

I will probably look for small classes with reformers and try hard to not feel I have to “keep up”. And tell the instructor about my challenges in advance to get guidance on n good classes to start with. I have identified a few movements that cause me more problems and will seek modifications for those.

Hopefully other YLFers with similar issues can chime in. Good luck! Many years ago I did tradition reformer based group Pilates classes regularly and it was very good for me.

cjh

(website)

This is interesting. My experience with then-chronic sacroiliitis years ago, and my daughter’s during the last few years during her pregnancies were both cured by using this exercise/therapy regime. This was OUR experience, and I am not a medical professional. Offering as possibly being of interest to those with sacroiliac joint dysfunction or pain.

http://thelowback.com/fix.htm

Nebraskim

CJH thanks for your post. I have SI joint issues on occasion and having a few more exercises/stretches look to be helpful. The difficult thing for me was convincing my doc that my pain was SI related and not disk slippage. Once a PT figured it out and started exercises and therapy, it was so helpful. During a direct traction, I actually felt the joint slip back into place. Instant relief. I hope every one here who struggles with this gets relief, too.

Christina F.

Thanks for the information. I bought a different SI Belt (cheaper, just to try) and I think it helped with my walking in the amusement park and other activities this weekend. I decided not to go on almost any rides (exceptions included the ferris wheel and lazy river in the water park). This is because I'm trying to recover, and my PT recommended that I not go on anything that might jar me.... which is pretty much almost every amusement ride, of course. So I can't vouch for the belt on that account. I do believe it enabled me to walk for longer with less pain, though.

annagybe

I used to wear one, until it was discovered my back pain was a bulging disc. I did wear long tank tops to keep it off my skin. Janet recommended the long and lean tank tops from Target, size up and they’re great.
ETA that’s the exact brand of belt my physical therapist recommended.
Also I suggest exercises specifically for the Transverse Abdominis muscle. It’s difficult to isolate, but it wraps around to the spine

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