Sacroiliac joint exercises with Physical Therapist Michelle Kenway from https://www.pelvicexercises.com.au to strengthen your buttocks, stabilize your pelvis & protect your pelvic floor.

These 4 sacroiliac joint exercises are general buttock strengthening exercises directed towards conditioning the muscles surrounding the sacroiliac joints. These exercises are not a substitute for medical treatment from your health practitioner. These SIJ exercises are the type of exercises commonly prescribed for SI joint instability.

Sacroiliac joint exercises demonstrated in this video:

1. Floor bridge

Starting position:

Lying supine on a firm surface, knees bent and feet flat

Action

Push down through your heels and raise your buttocks off the mat
Breathe out as you raise your body
Lower your body back to starting position

Bridge Exercise Progression

Place a dumbbell weight on your pelvis

2. Clam

Starting position

Commence lying on a firm surface on your side, knees bent, head and neck supported

Action

Raise the top leg just above the lower leg keeping your feet in contact
Lower the lifting leg back to starting position
Repeat lying on both sides

Clam Progression

Position a weight on the upper outer thigh close to the knee or use an exercise band around the thighs

3. Alternate arm and leg raise

Starting Position

Lying prone with/without a cushion supporting the hips and pelvis
Keep the forehead resting down on the back of the hands

Action

Gently contract your deep abdominal muscles
Raise one straight leg off the mat
Lower the leg back to the mat
Repeat on both sides

Alternate arm and leg raise progression

Lift and lower alternate arm and legs simultaneously

4. Heel prop

Starting position

Lying prone with/without a pillow supporting the hips and pelvis
Keep forehead down supported on the back of the hands

Action

Bend one leg at the knee to approximately 90 degrees (right angle)
Lift the bent leg pushing the flexed foot towards the ceiling
Lower the bent leg back to starting position
Repeat with the other leg

Physical Therapy Tips for Safe Sacroiliac Joint Exercises

Cease any exercise that causes physical discomfort
Support the hips and pelvis with a cushion when lying prone
Progress gradually
Avoid tensing the pelvic floor pelvic floor muscles during these exercises.

How Many Sacroiliac Joint Exercises?

Commence with whatever feels comfortable for your body, even 12 repetitions at a time
Generally aim for 1012 repetitions of each exercise at a time (1 set)
Repeat up to 3 sets of exercises/day
SIJ strengthening exercises can be performed 35 times per week

Research has shown that SIJ exercises for stabilization were effective in postpartum women for pain and disability (1) however some research has failed show that stabilization exercise is any more effective than other treatment regimes (2).

References:
(1) Stuge B, Laerum E, Kirkesola G, Vollestad N. (2004) The efficacy of a treatment program focusing on specifi c stabilizing exercises for pelvic girdle pain aft er pregnancy: A randomized controlled trial. Spine 29:351–359.

(2) NilssonWikmar L, Holm K, Oijerstedt R, HarmsRingdahl K. (2005) Effect of three different
physical therapy treatments on pain and activity in pregnant women with pelvic girdle
pain: A randomized clinical trial with 3, 6, and 12 months followup postpartum. Spine ;30:850–856.