How to Know If An SI Joint Belt Will Help You (Before You Buy)

Do you have SI Joint (sacroiliac joint) pain or been told you have an SI Joint dysfunction? Are you debating about buying an SI Joint belt to see if it will help reduce your pain? If so, be sure to watch this first! In this video, I give you some actual tests to see if an SI Joint belt will help (or hurt) you... BEFORE you invest in one. Plus, I share my overall thoughts on the SI Joint and the use of SI Joint belts (and how to put it on properly).
I recently got an email from a viewer asking me about an SI Joint belt (or "SI belt"). They said, “Hey Dr. Charlie, what are your thoughts on SI Joint belts? Do you think I should try one or is it just another thing I’m going to waste my money on?"
So I recorded this video to answer these questions... and most importantly, to help teach people exactly how to answer these questions for themselves!
#drcharliejohnsonpt #SIJointBelt #SIJointPain
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• How to Know If An SI J...

[@drcharliejohnson]

Thanks for watching! Want to pinpoint the source of your back, butt, or SI Joint pain using simple self movement tests & a step-by-step approach without needing expensive images or a specialist? 🔥Grab my FREE “Better Than an MRI DIY Diagnostic Guide” here 👉 www.drcharliejohnsonpt.com/diyguide

[@lourdesq]

Can I marry you? 😂😂😂😂😂

[@1truthse3ker]

Your the best❤a true blessing

[@drcharliejohnson]

@@1truthse3ker thank you 🙏🏻

[@fireflymary9269]

Most places have 30 day return policy. I bought one. Amazing treatment and helpful. Realize its a tool thats not meant long term every day forever but likely during flareups. I bought the Serola brand belt iff Amazon. Well made. Works perfect. Check out their web site before relying on Amazon as they have additional choices and information. Theres other brands. I did my own research. Good luck to all with SI issues. This channel has really helped me!

[@BlondieSL]

Dr. Johnson, you are a rare breed! You are the very first Dr. in your field that I've seen who actually *thinks outside the box.* Rare and something more people should do (in any profession and in daily life). Excellent! *This experiment just saved me $$$* For me, the test failed as applying the belt made the pain worse and more consistent even. So thanks for that! I would not have thought of this test. Great logic there.

[@drcharliejohnson]

Awesome! Glad I could help you out!

[@Tom-Travels]

The SI belt works for me. I've got one of my two on right now.

[@karenkaltsas1008]

Walking, and going up stairs, sitting, applied the logic, the belt helps. I can’t do that bridge to put the best on while laying down. Bridges cause pain. 18 weeks p.o. L4-L5 fusion. Surgeon says SI joints can cause pain after a fusion and usually get resolved in about a year.

[@1truthse3ker]

I have so much respect for you, you are truly a God sent blessing! THANK YOU!!!

[@tarasahadeo8714]

Hi Dr Johnson!! I have been watching you videos for sometime now !! Love the way you explain the issues on pain!! I will keep insomuch thank job's!!

[@drcharliejohnson]

Welcome!!

[@Liquisdesign]

Is that a staircase to nowhere?

[@MethodiousMind]

sure looks that way

[@curiousfurious5877]

It’s probably a portal to an other dimension...

[@laurensbluerose]

Weird

[@alloverdaplace2043]

💀👽

[@PrimalEnduro]

Great video! I'm currently wearing the Serola belt with activity (motocross), it seems to help some while wearing it, but when I take it off it seems to get worse. I don't believe I have it too tight and I believe it is in the right location over the pelvis. However, I've always put it on standing up. Would you recommend putting it on laying down or is that just for this test?

[@drcharliejohnson]

Hey- thanks for watching. I’d recommend putting it in lying down. Beyond that- sounds like you’ll require a more active approach to resolve this long term (unless you plan on wearing the belt indefinitely?). How are you currently treating this otherwise as a long term solution? I’m not sure if/how I could help- but if you’re interested I’d be happy to review your case. Just let me know if this is something you’d be open to 👍 Dr Charlie

[@PrimalEnduro]

@@drcharliejohnson Thanks for the quick response! I'm very open to talking to you. I'm in northern NJ so not terribly far from you as well. I know the belt is only temporary until I can strengthen the muscles and ligaments that should be providing the stability to the SI joints. I do need a long term plan because the riding season is just getting going and I need to keep moving.

[@drcharliejohnson]

@@PrimalEnduro hey! Awesome- we work with folks worldwide- so no issues there. For sure, would be happy to review your case to see how I may be able to best help. Just visit www.drcharliejohnsonpt.com/apply - select a time to chat, then follow instructions to submit details of your specific case (a "case review") Sound good? Look forward to reviewing your case! Dr. Charlie

[@jranda1051]

Hey "doc", try explaining to your patients and others seeking knowledge without knocking others, always be positive to uplift yourself, your patients and others.

[@thesoundofsilas474]

Thank you for making these videos and giving a different perspective on treatment. For the last 6 months, I have had increasing pain in my SI joint and piriformis. It also causes sciatica, which has also been getting worse. Wearing an SI belt takes away nearly all the pain, but I feel like it is just a bandaid. What strengthening exercises can I do? I didn't see a link to a video, only to a long playlist.

[@drcharliejohnson]

Thanks for watching & you're welcome! Sorry to hear about what you're dealing with... no fun. The link to the strengthening exercises video pops up at 31mins in... but here it is again for you, too -> kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHmaZ5eDirigf9U (check it out, give it a try, and let me know how it goes! happy to help you out more if need be...)

[@larkhughes9740]

You are absolutely spot on! Thank you!

[@suegalloway9678]

Thanks Charlie, a great video! Really informative and helpful for my torturous SIJ 👍

[@drcharliejohnson]

Glad I could help Sue! What are you doing to solve it?

[@suegalloway9678]

@@drcharliejohnson exploring a few things at my disposal, but it’s a slow process. Your video is interesting, honest and helpful as it explains what I’ve thought for some time, that the SIJ is mysterious and complicated, and difficult to diagnose correctly…doesn’t matter which practitioner we visit. 🙏🏾

[@drcharliejohnson]

@@suegalloway9678 👍. Yeah- it’s a diagnostically muddy area for sure. Good news is you don’t need a diagnosis to treat it using motion… just a process for self evaluating and knowing which motions you should do, vs those that are a waste of time, vs those that will make you worse. Just keep that in mind as you try to address it. Otherwise, I’m afraid you’ll fall down the rabbit hole of seeing everyone hoping they can figure out the problem only to realize that it’s very difficult to diagnose this thing- and that the treatment is not dependent upon diagnosis (diagnosis has little to no use in this case) Make sense?

[@susanncodish4154]

Your light bulb analogy might be misleading. What if wearing the SI belt the first time is more like the first dose of a course of antibiotics? What makes the light bulb analogy more accurate? Because the problem is mechanical? But there are nerves involved and I don't think we know enough about their impact. E.g.: my knees, on X-rays, are equally affected by osteoarthritis, yet I have no pain in my left leg and excruciating pain in my right. Anyhow, I ended up on your page because I'm experiencing very bad sciatic pain in R buttock. Have spondolysthesis (sp?) at L4 and L5 and numbness/weakness all through R thigh. I'm afraid of losing mobility, which is especially terrifying as I'm the primary care giver to my handicapped husband. I've given up on orthopedists, and while osteopaths have helped, the relief is short lived.

[@jeansroses7249]

my sense is that the source of my "chronically sprained s.i. joints" is the severely weakened illio-psoas muscle on my left side. Whenever I apply heat or some other helpful thing to it, the s.i. joints start to feel better. the toughest thing for me is laying on my back; that's the main time those s.i. joints really hurt! otherwise, I get thru the day fine and even working hard.

[@minners19]

Hi Dr. Charlie! Me again! 😅 So I did find out I herniated my L5/S1. No fun! Anyways, my sister had one of these belts, and before I found out my diagnosis, I tried it on desperate for ANY pain relief and OMG, it REALLY dulled the sciatic pain. Especially the buttock pain (which is absolutely HORRIFIC), I can't even sit down on me bum without wincing, and sleeping longer than four hours is out of the question. Anyways, when I asked my PT brother-in-law about possibly wearing an SI belt now that I know I have a herniated disc, he said "NOPE! That's bad!" So my question is, is it REALLY that bad? Logically it makes sense to me, because it is providing me relief, but could I be doing more damage to my back by wearing one? He never explained to me why it's "bad". Just a "NOPE!" 🤷‍♀ Thanks for your time Dr. Charlie!

[@drcharliejohnson]

Hey! So, if belt helps- then wear it! Who cares why it helps... it helps. Where it when needed/as needed to improve function and reduce pain. Make sense?

[@minners19]

@@drcharliejohnson YUP! Makes perfect sense to me! Not sure why my bro in law was so anti belt. 🤷‍♀ It also REALLY helps me feel more stable/safe when working out on the elliptical, so double plus! (I was afraid I'd have to stop my workouts, which helped me lose 85 pounds! Don't wanna gain that back!) Thanks again for your time Doc!

[@drcharliejohnson]

@@minners19 welcome!

[@tarasahadeo8714]

I was thinking to get a SI belt!

[@theCombinator]

Thanks, si joint paint confirmed.

[@drcharliejohnson]

Welcome!

[@larkhughes9740]

Too late 😪. I bought it.

[@johnb30021]

Best thing that has helped me 🙏🏼♥️👍🏼✌🏼your another Hack 😢

[@annkennedy7422]

You so much!

[@annagizziatlas62]

What if you’ve been told by a doctor that you have scoliosis and that’s causing uneven hips?

[@drcharliejohnson]

Ask them how many people have uneven hips and don't feel pain. If there answer is many (which it should be)... then how can they be sure the cause of your pain is a result of uneven hips? Many folks have uneven hips or asymmetrical bodies and do NOT experience pain.

[@Lastochka-b9o]

Thank you Dr. Charlie!!! Please tell me what if the belt reduces pain in my right si joint, but when walking in the belt my right hip begins to hurt a lot, especially on the back side. It turns out that the root of the problem is in the hip, and that it is making my pelvis and hip joint unstable?

[@Lastochka-b9o]

I'm mean hip in the area of femur

[@mary-chrisstaples9767]

I’ve actually heard that the belt is not used as crutch - that it actually helps strengthen the stabilizing muscles.

[@drcharliejohnson]

If it helps- feel free to use it to calm symptoms. Then, as able- wean off

[@themassagedoula]

Interesting my psyatrist told me my pelvis was tilted. And a bunch of other strange things. During a epidural i was tild i would be in a lot of pain when i was older? Why did he think i was there in the first place?

[@blakemoore666]

I’m 12 weeks post op from a hip replacement, this surgery has caused me significant SI issues. Is it safe to use a SI belt at this point post op? Thanks Charlie

[@drcharliejohnson]

Hey Blake! Sorry to hear about the surgery stirring some other things up. 3 months out should be NO issue using SI Joint belt for some support if it seems to help you. Let me know if ya have other questions or need some help! Thanks for watching. Dr. Charlie

[@blakemoore666]

@@drcharliejohnson I’m getting extreme hamstring & calf tightness at the height of these flare ups, what I think to be SI issue, as well as buttock/piriformis tightness….is all of that sound like SI to you? Burning sensations too

[@blakemoore666]

@@drcharliejohnson forgot about my hip, groin and hip flexor tightness….all this SI related as result of hip replacement surgery?

[@drcharliejohnson]

hey @@blakemoore666 SI can refer to the hip/groin... but hip more commonly refers to groin/outer hip/and butt... so, given your recent hip replacement... are you/they sure it's not the hip replacement itself causing the problem? Loose component/something else going on? Have they re-imaged?

[@blakemoore666]

@@drcharliejohnson I’ve had recent Xray of hip, CT scan of hip and MRI of lumbar, all seem normal with the exception of an old L4/L5 slight bulge. I can only walk for about 15 minutes and I have to sit down, my hip flexors stay so tight I can hardly get even close to full extension when trying to walk on the operative leg. My surgeon has essentially kicked me to the curb because I’ve seen him so much since surgery. He will not listen to me when I go there, only to say his work is fine. It really feels like a lot of nerve issues, scheduled to get SI diagnostic injection next Wednesday. I personally think a nerve in my hip is trapped or damaged even though the CT showed no issues. I’m so frustrated I don’t know where to turn, I’ve been outta work with no income for 12 weeks. I can’t find another hip surgeon to see me until one year has passed at least in my area. I’m in North Carolina.

[@hearme4581]

I was told my pelvis is rotated this is so frustrating. Chiropractor showed me a X-ray and it looks rotated. But my pain is in my si joints and sometimes s bone

[@enza3770]

Try an ace bandage

[@MisterBlond3]

Where those steps go

[@barryphillips5996]

Thanks 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🙏

[@drcharliejohnson]

Welcome 😊

[@YulianaFlorerios]

Sitting down for more then 40 Min while driving then it starts to hurt

[@markdittbenner9949]

Theres a lot of trial and error when it come to fixing back pain....very upsetting

[@drcharliejohnson]

Hey Mark- you're correct- but most people just guess- rather than following any logic. So at the very least having a process for testing is useful. Most things as it relates to health are trial and error... and science is constantly evolving given data/feedback. What are you doing for treatment?

[@vcbrittney4072]

Relaxin in itself isn’t the problem. Laying with your knees in stirrups and pushing is the problem. In that position when you push, there’s nothing to push against so you end up pushing your relaxed pelvis into the bed and stressing the SI joints. It’s the unnatural position that the body is put in that’s the problem. That’s modern medicine for you.

[@Vitobandito434]

It’s relaxin as well. I had two C-sections and have this issue.

[@billsemenoff]

I tend to believe the pt who says pt's are not to be believed

[@drcharliejohnson]

HA- thanks for watching Robert!

[@4444marla]

What is this “yukki”. The only word you now.? very sorry for this criticism but it’s very exhausting listening to you…….

[@drcharliejohnson]

Yucky = when something doesn't feel good (the opposite of yummy)

[@robertkat]

Does nothing, useless.

[@drcharliejohnson]

time to move on and test something else! What else are you currently trying?

[@robertkat]

@Dr. Charlie Johnson, PT had an epidural injection done, pain is gone.