How To Use A Sacroiliac Joint Belt For Relief
Do These Belts REALLY Work?
In short, YES! In the video I state that the biggest issue is whether you actually HAVE pain coming from the sacroiliac joints or not. Attaining an accurate diagnosis of pain from the SI joints isn’t that easy, simply because there isn’t an established “gold-standard” test.
Is there a simple test to find out if the belt COULD work for YOU?
Yep! In the video above, I show a test that can be performed while lying on your back. Since the belt’s job is to compress the pelvis, we can mimic this action with a set of hands. Definitely ask someone to do this for you, which will be a much better test than attempting it on yourself.
Does it matter if you put the belt on standing vs. sitting vs. lying down?
Yes. I recommend only putting on sacroiliac joint belts while lying on your back, AFTER doing your corrective mobilizations.
SI Belt – How To Wear
There are a few things to know when wearing an SI belt. The video I created for Youtube has received tens of thousands of views and the comments clearly show that most people were not applying the belt correctly.
If you follow the steps I outline, you’ll get the most out of the belt and get results if indeed the belt is what you really need.
How tight does the belt need to be?
Its important to understand that the emphasis should be placed on the position of the belt, NOT how tight it is. One study in particular showed that a belt with a tension of 100 N did not significantly differ from one at 50 N in terms of reducing sacroiliac motion.
Which belt is the best?
Sacroiliac joint belts all do the same thing so its really a matter of comfort, since most people who benefit from it will wear it often. Nothing is worse than having to deal with a poorly designed belt that is constantly riding upward when you sit or move.
Does relying on an SI belt make your own muscles weak?
No. Using a sacroiliac joint belt is not the same type of thing as a lumbar spine brace. SI joint instability is a ligamentous/joint problem. Since there are no muscles that directly move those joints, wearing the belt will not weaken anything. You can wear it 24/7 if you want.
