Article Advise

submitted: Aug 12th 2008 | by: PaulBoxcer | Total views: 1 | Word Count: 703 | |

Do not be misled into thinking that you have been given a diagnosis if someone has told you you are suffering with 'sciatica'. The term sciatica is only a descriptive one. If you had pains in your head, I take it you would not be fooled into thinking you were being diagnosed as having a 'headache', yet this is exactly the same as being told you have sciatica i.e. you are suffering with pain down the back of your leg which is a result of the sciatic nerve being irritated. If you are looking for exercise for your sciatica, you need to find the cause of it first.

The sciatic nerve is formed from 5 nerve roots which leave the lower back from the lumbar spine and sacrum. As it does this, the sciatic nerve passes through the buttock region and down the back of the leg to the back of the knee. As it passes below the knee, it is officially no longer referred to as the sciatic nerve. However, pain which is felt anywhere down the back of the leg to as far as the toes, is typically termed sciatica (assuming it is an irritated sciatic nerve which is causing the pain).

However, if we go back to the aim of this article i.e. exercises for sciatica, it is the cause of your sciatica which is all important, not just that you are suffering with sciatica.

Although not exclusive, there are three main causes of sciatica:

1) Disc Prolapse.

Do not be perturbed if you have been told you have suffered a disc prolapse. It is a very common cause of Sciatica and can be quite easily treated. If there is too much stress being placed across the disc which increases pressure in a posterior / backwards direction, it is not unusual for the disc to begin to bulge this way also. Consequently, the disc may press on the nerve roots which form the sciatic nerve and pain is felt. The aim of treatment in such circumstances would be to try

2) Facet Joint Compression.

At the back of each lumbar vertebrae are the facet joints, these articulate with each other every time our back moves. Unfortunately, they can irritate the sciatica nerve, especially if they begin to pinch on the nerve roots which make up the sciatic nerve. If this was the case, an exercise programme which is almost the opposite to the one given for a disc prolapse would be given. To begin with this would include exercises such as hugging your knees to your chest while lying on the floor, or sitting back onto your knees while on all fours.

3) Tight Muscles.

Two of the main culprits when it comes to tight muscles would be the Piriformis and Hamstring muscles (although it is not exclusive to these two). The sciatic nerve passes through or underneath the Piriformis muscle as well as through the Hamstrings. Therefore, if either of these muscles are tight, they can aggravate the sciatic nerve which therefore leads to pain.The aim of treatment here would be to stretch out the tight muscles, in order to relieve some of the pressure from the sciatic nerve.

Whether it is the Piriformis muscle, the Hamstrings or any other muscle for that matter, it is always essential you start off nice & gently with regards to any stretching exercises. As you progress, you will notice that the stretches get a lot easier. Only then should you consider advancing to more aggressive stretches.

As I mentioned above, sciatica can be a result of many different causes, and it is the cause of your Sciatica which dictates the exercises needed to be performed, not the sciatica itself.

Just to elaborate a little further before I finish, muscle imbalance is without doubt one of the biggest problems with regards to sciatica. This is where either tight or weak muscles combine to place inappropriate stresses across structures, such as the sciatic nerve, which results in pain.

The aim of treatment in these circumstances is to stretch and strengthen the appropriate muscles. Although in this article I have only discussed movement or stretching exercises, it is likely there is weakness as well as tightness present. In such circumstances, it is important strengthening exercises are also performed.

About the Author

Paul Boxcer is a BSc (Hons) Physiotherapist with over 10 years experience. Much of this time he has spent treating people with Low Back Pain & Sciatica. Sign up for his FREE 5 Day 'Cure Your Sciatica' Course and discover how to resolve your sciatica NOW!

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