Shortly after graduating with my physical therapy license in the early ‘80s, I became an advocate for women’s health. While working full-time at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, I started my first entrepreneur business along with my colleagues. Long before it became an accepted practice, we dedicated ourselves to providing healthy, safe exercise for women during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. We were recognized for our work and presented at the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) national conference on the topic.
During this time, I was working part-time in the hospital clinic, working on my master’s in education and having two children. I became acutely aware of the problems of sacroiliac pain/pelvic girdle pain in this population. As we know, it often starts during pregnancy or postpartum and can continue thereafter.
I went back to school for my doctorate in physical therapy in 2007. As my “capstone” project, I chose to further investigate the exercise approaches I was using successfully in the clinic and compare them to the literature. My reputation with the physicians and my colleagues for treating sacroiliac pain continued to grow.
In 2011, I founded Riczo Health Education. My goals were, and still are, to:
- Provide consumer health education, especially in the areas of:
- Sacroiliac pain
- Pregnancy and postpartum
- Breast cancer
- Health and wellness
- Provide high-quality continuing education courses to health professionals
- Provide dynamic presentations on a variety of healthcare topics to consumer groups
- Provide experienced consulting to healthcare organizations and consumers
In writing my first book, I sought to capture APTA’s vision; “The physical therapy profession will transform society by optimizing movement for all people of all ages to improve the human experience.” Sacroiliac Pain: Understanding the Pelvic Girdle Musculoskeletal MethodSM is a book based on a method that I developed and have been teaching to therapists since 2011. I partnered with the APTA Section on Women’s Health in 2016 to teach a two-day continuing education course to physical therapists, “Simplifying Sacroiliac Dysfunction,” also based on the method.
Ultimately, I wrote the book to reach out to those who are dealing with sacroiliac pain for either of two reasons; they have not sought medical help due to insurance reasons, or they have sought help but are still dealing with pain. The book is especially written for those being treated for sacroiliac pain with opioids or for those who are contemplating surgery. Of course, the book will not help everyone, as medical, psychological, spiritual, social, occupational and environmental situations all vary from person to person. However, in my experience as a practicing physical therapist, the Pelvic Girdle Musculoskeletal MethodSM is a very successful, cost-effective approach. I believe that the average person can pick up this book and benefit from it in some way, as it is holistic in its approach. Hope, belief and mindfulness are key, as well as movement and exercise. And of course, adherence!
Sacroiliac Pain is designed to help improve muscle imbalances and weakness by providing a simple approach. It begins with a background on recognizing sacroiliac pain; its common causes as well as muscles, joints and ligaments that are often involved. Additionally, the reader is made aware of how pain and fear of movement can result in decreased function and increased pain.
The section dedicated to the Pelvic Girdle Musculoskeletal Method provides step-by-step instructions for the exercises with supporting video links. We added the online videos as a convenient, visual way to help the reader understand the correct way to execute the movements.
In addition to the main exercises, we also included stretching exercises as well as instruction on breathing, which plays an important role in relaxation and pain management, along with mindfulness. Tips on beginning a walking program and progression to other forms of exercise are also included.
In the final section, the reader will find information regarding use of a sacroiliac belt and other frequently asked questions. An exercise planner is also included for logging workouts.
I hope that readers of this book who are struggling with sacroiliac pain find the tools they need for improving function, fitness and wellness. I’m optimistic that its approach will help to “optimize movement” and “improve the human experience” for many who read it.
Deborah B. Riczo, PT, DPT, MEd
Dr. Riczo has been a practicing physical therapist for over 37 years, the majority of it being in clinical practice at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio. She developed a continuing education course for physical and occupational therapists called “Simplifying Sacroiliac Dysfunction,” and has been teaching it since 2011. Deborah is the owner of Riczo Health Education and speaks nationally on sacroiliac dysfunction in addition to teaching physical therapy students who are at the doctoral level.
Discover a simple yet effective approach to addressing sacroiliac pain symptoms in Deborah’s book; Sacroiliac Pain: Understanding the Pelvic Girdle Musculoskeletal MethodSM.
For more info on sacroiliac pain, see Deborah’s blog at RiczoHealthEducation.com.
