Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain is a frequently overlooked source of low back and hip pain in athletes. It’s easy to miss because it doesn’t always announce itself the way a muscle strain does — instead, it tends to show up as a dull ache in the lower back, buttock, or posterior hip that can mimic...
If you’ve been told spinal manipulation “puts your SI joint back into place,” that explanation doesn’t hold up under imaging, even though the treatment itself works. Manipulation, alongside targeted strength training, remains one of the most effective interventions for sacroiliac (SI) pain. The question researchers have spent decades on isn’t whether it works. It’s why....
If you’ve been told your sacroiliac (SI) joint is “out of alignment” based on a clinician feeling for bony landmarks on your pelvis, that finding is on shakier ground than most patients realize. Static palpation and motion-based SI testing have been studied since the 1980s, and the reliability numbers are bad enough that flipping a...
Manipulation, exercise, and taping are the three interventions physical therapists reach for first with sacroiliac (SI) joint pain. For years, though, the SI joint has been one of the most argued-about diagnoses in orthopedic PT. That changed somewhat in late 2025: a multispecialty consensus guideline endorsed by more than twenty medical societies, including the American...
By: Dr. Rani Helvey-Byers, PT, DPT, OCS Upward Facing Dog (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana) is a powerful backbend that strengthens the spine and opens the chest. However, for many practitioners, this pose can cause discomfort or even pain in the lower back. If you’ve ever felt strain in your lumbar spine while practicing this asana, you’re...
In our Boulder Physical Therapy practice we often see athletes who are dealing with a swimming related injury. Some of these injuries can occur from training errors and poor stroke mechanics, but many are secondary to correctable changes in mobility and strength. Many injured swimmers complain of shoulder pain including rotator cuff muscle or tendon...
Seeing GHD sit-ups on the whiteboard at the start of your CrossFit workout can be a make-or-break moment. It’s a movement that either leaves you excited or apprehensive. This exercise hammers the anterior muscle chain, demanding precise timing and execution. Unfortunately, without the right preparation, performing uncontrolled, extreme extensions of the lumbar spine during GHD...
The serratus anterior muscle is located on the side of your chest and attaches your scapula to your ribs. The purpose of this muscle is to stabilize the scapula, especially during overhead movements. Its specific actions are scapular upward rotation and protraction which are important movements for many movements in rock climbing. Weakness of the...
By: Maggie Gebhardt, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT Myofascial pain can mean a lot of things, but in essence it is the painful condition that results from alterations in the muscle and fascial system of the body. Any area of the body can be affected, and it can manifest as muscle pain, referred pain, stiffness, and...
Low back pain is a frequent challenge for athletes who place high demands on their bodies, especially gymnasts, CrossFit athletes, golfers, climbers, and those involved in team sports. These athletes often combine heavy loading, explosive power, rotation, and end-range positions — all of which require the spine to transfer force efficiently. When mobility, strength, or...
