Sciatica is a term I hear most weeks, whether it’s through clients personal experiences or knowing a friend or family member who has suffered with it. Which is no surprise given that it affects millions of people every year. The pain can vary from mild localised irritation to debilitating pain, with an adverse effect on quality of life.
What is Sciatica?
Sciatica is caused through compression of the sciatic nerve, the largest in the entire body, originating from L4, through to the S3 vertebrae, deep in the gluteal region.
You have two sciatic nerves, one on each side, they run through your hip and glute region down the back of the leg to just below your knee. The sciatic nerve then splits into other nerves such as your peroneal nerve, and your tibial nerve which go down into the foot.
Symptoms can result in pain in your lower back, hips, buttocks, or legs – with some even experiencing pain as far down as their feet.
Common Causes & Symptoms
There are two types of sciatica, regardless of the type, the effects are the same.
- True Sciatica – This is any condition or injury that directly affects your sciatic nerve.
- Sciatica-like conditions – Conditions that feel like sciatica but are caused by other issues which cause the same debilitating symptoms.
The specific cause of sciatica can vary, but is often attributed to one of the following:
- Muscle tightness
- Muscle weakness
- Inactivity
- Herniated disc
- Having insufficient core strength
- Normal wear and tear
- Spinal stenosis
Symptoms of sciatica range from a sharp sensation down the legs when bending over, a constant burning sensation, a feeling of numbness down the leg and even tingling pins and needles (parethesia). Any of these symptoms can be linked to nerve pathology.
Treatment & Rehabilitation
There’s a couple of ways we can help to combat the symptoms of sciatica at Body Mentors, through exercise therapy and manual therapy.
Exercise Therapy
A functional way of reducing sciatica pain is with targeted exercises to relieve pressure & tension, whilst improving function & building strength. Where possible (pain levels permitting), strengthening surrounding muscles and stabilisers in the core can help to relieve nerve compression, and build a better foundation to reduce strain on the sciatica nerve. Exercises can range from glute specifics such as side planks, single leg squats and banded clams – through to more functional movements like deadlifts and squats.
Manual Therapy
Sciatica symptoms are often caused by tightness in the gluteal area and/or lower back. Soft tissue mobilisation can be great for pain relief, by working through trigger points it helps to ease the tension that has been placed on the nerve. In addition, a technique called ‘flossing’ can also help to relieve tension – the basic premise of this is to stretch the nerve at one end, whilst allowing it to fully relax at the other end.
With the correct treatment people experiencing sciatica can notice a significant reduction in pain within just a few weeks. If you currently suffer with sciatica pain or symptoms, please feel free to book in for an initial consultation at the Injury Clinic, and find out how we can help.
