3d model of human pelvis and sciatica nerve pain

How Exercise Can Help Treat Sciatica Pain

Sciatica pain can easily be treated and even cured by exercise interventions without the need of surgery. Before booking in an appointment at our clinic to see our Melbourne Exercise Physiologists to effectively treat your sciatica, you can try the following to help manage and treat your pain.


  • Avoid long periods of sitting and other aggravating activities
  • Gentle stretches of the lower back
  • Using ice covered on a towel
  • Consulting your doctor on using pain medications

There are a number of best exercises for sciatica issues that will help relieve the pain and specific targeted exercises and stretches is a great option to speed up the process and for an exact diagnosis of your specific causes.

Please note, that there are also exercises in the gym that you should avoid with sciatica as well.

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is a condition that describes nerve and muscle pain travelling down the back of the leg. It can cause mild to extreme pain, weakness in the legs, numbness, changes in sensation, pins and needles and even electric-like shooting feelings.  Depending on its severity it can be infrequent or constant background pain, or even be so severe that it is completely debilitating.

You may have sciatica if you experience any of the following:

  • Pain in any or all of the lower back, buttocks, hamstrings, knee, calves and ankles
  • Changes in your sensation
  • Numbness of the leg or foot
  • Pins and needles
  • Difficulty walking
  • Unable to seat for long periods of time
  • Difficulty standing up
Lower leg and sciatic nerve area of pain

What causes Sciatica?

Sciatica is caused by compression, damage and irritation of the sciatic nerve that originates from the lower back and runs all the way down the back of the leg. This can be due to a disc bulge, stiff joints in the back, canal narrowing in the spine, muscle spasms and osteoarthritis.

Young, middle aged and older adults can have sciatica, and it is therefore essential that it is accurately diagnosed and treated by an Advanced Physio to help return to everyday life.

You may have MRI’s, X-Ray’s, CT Scans that show changes in the lower back that are affecting your sciatica.

Exercising with Sciatica. (What to avoid & best exercises to include).

If you have sciatica, exercises to avoid include squats, lunges, deadlifts and jumping.

 

The best exercises for sciatica include gentle and progressive glute and core strengthening exercises as well as nerve stretches.


Ultimately the best medicine for sciatica is exercise and rehabilitation which can cure many people’s symptoms and condition.


Targeted physical therapy exercises for sciatica is essential amongst other measures such as activity modification, sciatica pillows and pain medicines to keep sciatica away

How do I get help? 

Getting a full body assessment with an exercised physiologist is highly recommended to understand how your body works and how and what to fix, when it goes wrong.


After a full body assessment, a treatment plan can be created that focuses on the release of local tension and reduction of inflammation.

Making sure that the lower back, hips, and pelvis are all working smoothly and freely is the first step. 


If the body works correctly and has stability it can heal itself. Skilled professionals are able to diagnose, treat and rehabilitate patients. As skilled professionals, we are able to diagnose, treat and rehabilitate patients.

Many patients have been successfully treated. Continued success is demonstrated by reliable and practical results, following scientific medical process. There is no magic technique, treatment, or one size fits all!

Book an Exercise Physiology Initial Assessment

Ultimately the best medicine for sciatica starts with an assessment, followed by a personalised exercise and rehabilitation program which can cure many people’s symptoms and condition.


Above all, treatment  comes down to what the origin of the problem is. It is highly advised that you seek an opinion on this issue by speaking to one of our exercise physiologists that are specialists with treating sciatica. They can help guide you in the proper management depending on the cause.

Exercise Physiology at MVFIT

Whether you are recovering from injury, surgery, or simply want to improve your physical function, our exercise physio's can help you.


Tags

exercise, sciatica, treatment


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