Home Stretch: Sciatica Relief through Effective Stretching
Chronic pain can make daily life more strenuous than it has to be. Though sedentary lifestyles and time sitting down at desk jobs are common causes of lower body pain, the truth is that anyone can be affected. In particular, frequent runners often complain of pain that travels down the back of one leg. Physical therapy near me can help loosen bunched muscles and take pressure off key nerves to soothe chronic pain.
What Is Sciatic Pain
Sciatic pain arises from the sciatic nerve, which is the longest nerve in the human body. This nerve originates in the lower back and continues down each leg, traveling through the glute muscle along the back side of the body.
Sciatic nerve pain can feel like tingling, numbness, hot pain or cold pain. It can be so intense that the affected leg feels weak when walking. Many people with this type of nerve pain experience it on one side of the body, but not the other. Over-the-counter pain relief medications can help, but they’re often not enough to provide true relief.
What Causes Sciatica
Sciatica is a common pain symptom because many different structures can put pressure on the sciatic nerve, especially misaligned discs in the spine. Also, many different injuries can affect this nerve due to its size and scope. Common causes of sciatica include:
- Herniated disk
- Traumatic injury to the pelvis
- Poor posture
- Spinal stenosis, or a lack of space in the spinal column
- Tight muscles in the glutes, lower back and hips
Sciatic pain is one of the most common conditions that physical therapists treat. Exercise and stretching can take pressure off the nerves, but only someone licensed in physical therapy Yukon will be able to tell you which methods are best for the specific cause of your sciatica.
Effective Stretches for Pain Relief and Relaxation
Stretches for this type of nerve pain involve opening up the glute and hip muscles surrounding the sciatic nerve.
Basic Glute Stretch
The easiest way to stretch the glute muscles begins by sitting down in a chair. With one foot firmly on the floor and the leg at a ninety-degree angle, lift the other foot and place it directly over the grounded leg’s knee. This should cause your raised hip and knee to open out to the side. Put gentle pressure on the lifted leg to stretch the glute muscle.
Seated Twist
Since many sources of pressure on the sciatic nerve originate in the lower back, a seated twist that opens up these back muscles can prove beneficial. Sit up straight on the ground with your legs out in front of you. Then, cross one leg over the other and place that foot squarely on the ground, creating a tent shape with your knee. Twist your spine in the opposite direction of your crossed leg, pressing against your lifted knee for leverage.Sciatic pain frequently improves with regular stretching and exercise. Visit Moore physical therapy specialists to start the journey to chronic pain relief and recovery.
