For my latest blog for Lushington Chiropractic I am going to talk about sciatica and my approach to both treating and rehabbing it from my experience as both a sports massage therapist and as a personal trainer.
Sciatica
Sciatica in it’s basic element is an entrapment or irritation of the sciatic nerve that leads to either, sharp pain, pins and needles, muscle spasms, burning sensations in the low back, glutes, hamstrings and calf muscles. This entrapment can be caused anywhere along the nerve which can make it difficult to pin point the root cause and get the correct treatment interventions in place.
The entrapment or irritation can be caused by a spinal issue such as a bulging disc or a muscular issue where muscles become tight. Imagine a hose pipe – if you unravel it so it’s nice and straight and turn the water on the water flows nicely out the other end but if you step on the hose the water slows or stops. The hose pipe is your nerve the water is the signals and your spine or the muscles the nerve runs through is your foot treading on the pipe, that pressure on the nerve is what generates the symptoms of sciatica.
Muscle Tightness
Tightness in muscles tend to stem from either the muscles being in a stressed or stretched position for an extended period of time (poor posture or lack of movement) or tightness from an unstable joint – muscles tighten up to prevent poor movement to protect our joints. This is where massage therapy is important to release the tightness on the muscles and then rehab to strengthen and stabilise the joints to prevent any future spasming in the low back or glutes.
Are you moving enough?
I find that many sufferers of sciatica tend to have sedentary job roles where they’re seated for extended periods of time, if this is you I suggest moving as much as possible during your day and taking time to stretch your low back, abdominals, hip flexors, glutes and hamstrings too. These stretches will offset the tightness that will develop in your muscles from being seated all day. Being seated too long is no good for your core muscles! These muscles get weak then guess what muscles then take over to stabilise your low back? That’s right your lower back muscles which the sciatic nerve runs through, these go into spasm then hey presto sciatic symptoms will tend to follow. Strengthen your deep core muscles (not by doing sit ups or crunches) and then these muscles will be used to do their proper job in stabilising your lumbar spine.
Find out how we can help you.
I hope this has helped and get in touch or book an appointment to find out more about how to fix your sciatica. You can find out more about me and how I can help you by visiting our website www.lushingtonchiropractic.com Here you can also find details of all of the practitioners here at Lushington Chiropractic in Eastbourne. We see many cases of sciatica here at the clinic and some of my colleagues have written blogs on their experience in treating sciatica and how effective it has been. If you’d like to find out more visit our chiropractic blog site Backblog.
You don’t have to be a chiropractic patient to benefit from massage therapy, we treat a wide range of conditions, not just sciatica. Pop into the clinic in Lushington Road in Eastbourne or give us a call on 01323 722499. We are conveniently based in Eastbourne Town Centre, close to the Railway Station and major bus routes.
Want to find out more about sciatica?
If you’ve enjoyed this blog and would like to find out more, then please check out one of our other blogs on Sciatica below.
James’ Top Three Tips for Dealing with Sciatica at Home
Seventy and Suffering from Sciatica
Can Chiropractic help my Sciatica? A Case Study
Piriformis syndrome (sciatica)
New NICE guidelines recommend chiropractic techniques for the lower back pain and sciatica
What is Sciatica? And how can Chiropractic help?
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