Sciatica Pain Relief Through Exercise
April 9, 2010
by: Sylvia Marten
Sciatica is a general term used to refer to the symptoms caused by compression or irritation of nerves that make up the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve exits the low back and travels down the leg; an irritated nerve typically produces pain that originates in the back and radiates through the leg. Contrary to what many believe, exercise is actually more healing for sciatica than bed rest. Spine-health is pleased to present four new, original featured videos led by Physical Therapist Ron Miller, PT, demonstrating common exercises for sciatica relief.
- Before beginning an exercise program, it is important to get an accurate diagnosis for the cause of your sciatica. For instance, sciatica may be caused by piriformis syndrome in which the piriformis muscle becomes tight or spasms, thereby placing pressure on the nearby sciatic nerve. The Sciatica Exercises for Piriformis Syndrome Video demonstrates simple exercises that help stretch the piriformis muscle and reduce the stress placed on the sciatic nerve.
- Another common cause for sciatica is tight hamstrings. Tightness in these muscles places additional pressure on the low back and surrounding structures. Stretching the hamstrings opens up space in the low back, and can relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve. The basic stretches presented in Hamstring Exercises for Low Back Pain Relief Video can be incorporated into any routine, and do not require any special equipment.
- Spinal stenosis can also cause sciatica pain. With stenosis, the sciatic nerve is irritated or impinged causing radiating pain down the leg while walking but not when sitting down. Exercises for this cause of sciatica focus on bending forward to increase the size of the spinal passageways thus easing the irritation or impingement. The exercises outlined in Sciatica Exercises for Spinal Stenosis Video are selected to help the patient experience less leg pain and disability when performing regular activities.
- With degenerative disc disease, a degenerated disc can impinge on a nerve root in the low back and cause a form of sciatica. The form of sciatica exercises typically recommended for treating sciatic pain from disc degeneration is dynamic lumbar stabilization, designed to strengthen the muscles that support the spine and prevent lower back pain. In Sciatica Exercises for Degenerative Disc Disease Video, the emphasis is on finding a neutral spine position and doing more progressively challenging strengthening exercises to build strength.
Many Spine-health readers have expressed their success with physical therapy for helping with sciatica symptoms; others advocate the benefits of water therapy, which is less stressful on the body. Regardless of the mode of treatment, staying active is key. Long periods of sitting or inactivity often bring about the most pain.
Sciatica can be caused by a number of different conditions, and appropriate exercises will vary based on your specific diagnosis. A physical therapist, certified athletic trainer, chiropractor, or other spine specialist will be able to recommend specific exercises that are best suited to your condition. The most important thing is to exercise regularly to maintain movement and encourage blood flow. This exchanges essential nutrients and fluids throughout the spine and disc space to help keep tissues healthy.
Additional Resources:
Sciatica Exercises for Sciatica Pain Relief