How Physical Therapy Can Offer Sciatica Pain Relief
Four out of ten people experience some sciatic irritation at some point in their lives. The range of pain and symptoms vary from light burning sensations in the lower back to more debilitating pain. Physical therapy is the most effective way to treat sciatica pain as soon as it appears.
Let’s explore sciatica pain and how physical therapy can help.
What is the sciatic nerve?
The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest nerve in the human body. It originates at the base of the spine, moves through the pelvis gluteus region. The nerve continues down the back of each thigh, dividing at the knee and spreading up to the foot. People who suffer from sciatic nerve pain experience symptoms in any of these areas. Various types of pain go from burning, aching, tingling, or a feeling of numbness.
What causes sciatica pain?
Most sciatica pain arises from injuries. The pain can also appear due to spinal canal narrowing, known as spinal stenosis, or a ruptured disk. Uncomfortable sensations tend to increase as the person stands up, twists their body, remains seated too long, or lifts objects. On some occasions, the pain can also be triggered by sneezing and coughing.
Physical therapy for sciatica pain relief
Most people prefer to rest when they experience debilitating pain caused by the sciatic nerve. However, physical exercise has proven to be a better solution for long-term relief. Physical therapy is the most commonly used treatment method for sciatica pain relief.
Therapists identify body areas affected with sciatica pain and start the treatment from there. The specialists typically incorporate stretching, strength, and aerobic exercises. Exercise allows for fluid and nutrient exchange in your discs, preventing degeneration and herniation that pressure the affected nerve.
Strength training helps reinforce the spinal column and the muscles, ligaments, and tendons surrounding the nerve. Better strength supports the structure and helps alleviate pain. Strength exercises work best for lower back muscles as well as the gluteus and hips.
Stretching exercises help manage the pain. Common stretches include the reclining pigeon pose, sitting pigeon pose, forward pigeon pose, sitting spinal stretch, hamstring stretches, and knee-to-shoulder stretches.
Aerobic and low-impact exercises help promote healing by increasing circulation in the affected area. Walking and swimming are often the most effective workouts that also help release endorphins that alleviate the pain.
Here’s an overview of our sciatica physical therapy exercises:
Aerobic exercises
Back stretching exercises
Resistance band and weight training exercises for muscle strengthening
Functional lifting, bending, carrying, and squatting technique retraining
Manual therapy for joint mobilization and pain relief
Dry needling for irritable muscle tissue that causes pain
Core strengthening and gait training
Aquatic therapy
Passive treatment including hot and cold modalities, TENs unit, and ultrasound
Schedule your sciatica pain relief treatment
The excruciating pain caused by the sciatic nerve can significantly affect a person’s quality of life. The longer the condition is left untreated, the higher chance of long-term consequences. If you’ve been dealing with sciatica pain, you should contact a professional physical therapy center and schedule an appointment.
If you are looking for occupational or physical therapy, vestibular rehab, wheelchair training, learning to walk, unweighting aquatic therapy, or other services in the Phoenix area, please call Touchstone Rehabilitation at 602-277-1073.