Sciatica medical health care vector illustration scheme with lower spine and sciatic nerve pain in leg. Backbone diagram with vertebrae, disks and nerves. Full woman patient body from back.
According to Harvard Medical School as many as 40% of people may encounter sciatica at some point during their lives. The frequency peaks around 45 to 64 years of age with other risk factors including those who smoke, those who are taller than average and those who undertake strenuous physical activity on a daily basis.
The good news is that in most cases of sciatica can be treated successfully without major medical intervention, read on to find out exactly what sciatica is and how Osteopathy can help with your sciatica.
The term ‘sciatica’ refers to pain, inflammation and neurological sensations associated with the sciatic nerve, most commonly presenting itself as pain radiating down the back of the leg. Sciatica is not actually a medical diagnosis; it is more a reference to symptoms of an underlying medical condition.
Sciatica can be a re-occurring issue, often worsening over time and can relate to daily activities. The pain can be described as anything from a dull ache to a shooting pain that can leave the person momentarily incapacitated.
People experiencing sciatica may have a number of symptoms that could include any one or more of the following:
It is important to note that there are other conditions that can present with the same sorts of pain and symptoms as sciatica, some examples of these are:
Sometimes people are unaware that their symptoms relate to sciatica so it is helpful to understand what causes it. There can be a number of underlying conditions contributing to the pain associated with sciatica these may include.
An Osteopath is able to work towards relieving the symptoms of Sciatica by seeking out the underlying cause of the pain. In most cases, sciatic nerve pain can be improved by decreasing muscle spasm, improving joint mobility and overall spinal functional movement, thereby relieving stress on the affected areas. Treatments may include a combination of manual joint manipulation or articulation, muscle, or tendon manipulation to reduce pressure on the Sciatic Nerve.
Once the initial pain has been reduced, an Osteopathic treatment approach will include focusing on recovery exercises and rehabilitation methods with a view to preventing further episodes. This will involve an exercise regime that aims to restore mobility, build postural strength and encourage muscle activation.
These are our top two sciatica exercises, remember when carrying out these exercises you should only feel a relieving stretch in your muscle, not pain.
This simple stretch can help loosen your gluteal and piriformis muscles.
The stretch is aimed at mobilising the lower spine an improving blood flow to the low back.
If you are struggling with sciatic pain – please do not hesitate to contact Lorraine Herity at Better Health Osteopathy in Christchurch today. Call 027 7555700 or book online.