What is Sciatica?
The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body. It runs from your lower back and down into both legs. It also connects your spinal cord with your feet and leg muscles. When in pain, the sciatic nerve condition is called sciatica.
Sciatic pain is typically caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve. It usually comes from a herniated disc, disc degeneration, spinal stenosis (narrowing) or a bone spur in the spine. This causes pain that starts in the lower (lumbar) spine.
It then radiates down the nerve, causing pain that travels down the back of your leg. This is sometimes accompanied by tingling in your feet. Sciatica typically only affects one side of the body.
This condition can happen suddenly after an injury It can also take months to slowly develop. It can be short-lived (acute) or long-term (chronic). Regardless, it is typically easy to identify and can sometimes be treated at home.
These factors put you at a higher risk for developing sciatica:
Age: People age 30 to 50 are more likely to develop this condition as they develop spinal changes such as herniated discs.
Weight: Being overweight or pregnant puts added pressure and stress on your spine, possibly triggering sciatica.
Work: Jobs that require heavy lifting or twisting or prolonged sitting can add pressure to your spine.
Diabetes: Because diabetes affects how your body processes and uses blood sugar, it can increase your risk of nerve damage and your chances of developing sciatica.
While you may suspect that you have sciatica, your doctor can give her professional medical advice and confirm the diagnosis with an exam. During the exam, your doctor may observe you during a number of activities, including:
- Lying on your back
- Lifting your legs one at a time
- Walking on your toes or heels
Such activities generally worsen sciatica pain.
Risk factors
There are many factors that can leave you susceptible to sciatica, which affects both athletes and those who are less active. People who lead a sedentary lifestyle are more likely to develop sciatica than active people. However, endurance athletes are also prone to experiencing sciatica from overworked and stiff muscles. Obesity and diabetes are other common contributors.
The good news
According to Dr. Anshul, an expert physiotherapist can help you to determine whether sciatica can be relieved through conservative methods such as physiotherapy, static stretching, and cold therapy. Most people respond well to simple techniques and are pain-free within a matter of weeks. Chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy may help improve the alignment of your spine and address other underlying conditions while also improving blood circulation and muscle relaxation. Minor pain can also be treated with the application of heat and cold.
While some doctors may recommend surgery as a treatment for sciatica after noninvasive measures have failed, experts say it’s not always the right choice for everyone. In fact, according to the PhysioEntrust Clinic, nearly 50 percent of people with sciatica report their symptoms improving within 1.5 months of their diagnosis. Nonsurgical treatments may include a longer period of recovery. However, surgery comes with its own risks, which include infection and blood clots. It’s important to talk with your doctor about your sciatica to determine which treatment is best for you
The Idea is to improve core and back strength
The musculature around your spine and abdomen may be weak or overly tight, preventing it from supporting your body as needed. Poor posture and compromised muscles can impact the alignment of your spine, increasing your risk for lower back pain and sciatica. Gentle strengthening exercises that target your core and back will improve your posture and ability to respond to stress, reducing the likelihood and severity of back pain. While you’re recovering from sciatica, you may want to avoid high-impact exercises, such as running and plyometrics.
The Idea is to improve core and back strength
The musculature around your spine and abdomen may be weak or overly tight, preventing it from supporting your body as needed. Poor posture and compromised muscles can impact the alignment of your spine, increasing your risk for lower back pain and sciatica. Gentle strengthening exercises that target your core and back will improve your posture and ability to respond to stress, reducing the likelihood and severity of back pain. While you’re recovering from sciatica, you may want to avoid high-impact exercises, such as running and plyometrics.
Using cold and heat to alleviate sciatica pain
When you first start experiencing sciatica pain, applying a cold pack can provide a lot of relief. Wrap a cold pack or a bag of frozen peas in a clean towel, and apply it to the painful area a few times a day for up to 20 minutes each time.
If your sciatica is still bothering you after a few days, then it can be helpful to try heat instead. Apply a heat lamp on the lowest setting, a hot pack, or a heating pad to the painful area. If your pain persists, try alternating between cold packs and hot packs.
Physiotherapy path to Relieve Sciatica
According to Dr. Anshul, Physiotherapy plays a vital role considering multidisciplinary sciatica treatment plan. Physical therapy (PT) typically involves passive and active therapies.
Passive PT refers to treatments (eg, heat/cold packs, TENS, Ultrasound and SWD) administered by the physical therapist and Active PT requires your “active” participation (eg, therapeutic exercise and Hydrotherapy).
Physiotherapy for Sciatica: What to Expect
Dr. Anshul says, during your first PT appointment, the therapist reviews your medical history, lifestyle habits, and asks you questions about your sciatica experience. He/she may ask when sciatica started, if an injury or specific event triggered sciatic symptoms, and inquire about your activity level before low back and leg pain developed.
Next, your physical therapist may ask you to perform a series of simple movements to evaluate your range of motion, posture, reflexes and movement ability. You may be asked to bend side-to-side, flex forward at the waist, extend backward, or twist at the waist. The therapist observes you walking too. This part of your exam provides your therapist with a baseline assessment of your current condition and how sciatica affects your physical functional ability to perform activities of daily life.
Then your physical therapist combines what he/she learned from your evaluation and crafts an organized PT program for you. Your passive and active therapy program is designed to include realistic goals you want to reach. As back and leg pain subsides and becomes more manageable, your therapy plan may be adjusted to include different types of stretches and exercises.
Like many treatment options, physical therapy is not a quick fix and may require several weeks to achieve the desired results. Your treatment plan will likely include a mix of clinic visits with your physiotherapist in addition to an at-home exercise regimen.
10 Stretches Exercises for Sciatica Pain Relief > Read below Article:
https://www.practo.com/healthfeed/10-stretches-for-sciatica-pain-relief-50740/post