Did you know that 40 percent of people will experience sciatic pain at some point in their life? Your chances of experiencing this pain increase if your lifestyle is sedentary or you’re overweight.
In the United States alone, more than two-thirds of all adults are overweight or obese, which puts them at significant risk of developing sciatica pain in the future. With so many individuals at risk of developing sciatic pain in their lifetime, it’s essential to understand what it is, how it can develop, and what steps you can take to proactively reduce the likelihood of developing sciatica pain in the future.
Sciatica pain is the result of a pinched or irritated nerve; which is more likely to happen when there is an increased amount of pressure on the nerves. This irritation can be due to weight or extended time in an unnatural sitting posture.
This nerve compression can also happen as a result of an injury or constant pressure to the area after years of deterioration through a bone spur or herniated disk. In fact, 90 percent of sciatica cases are due to herniated discs and compression on the root of the nerve.
The nerves that make up the two sciatic nerves, which are the longest nerves in the body, originate in the lower lumbar spine and extend all the way down to the feet. Oftentimes, sciatic pain can be confused for typical low back pain, but sciatica differentiates itself by radiating pain from the lower back and down the legs. Individuals with sciatic pain, also known as lumbar radiculopathy, can either experience symptoms that range from burning, cramping, or shooting pains that can interrupt daily life.
Sciatica is not an uncommon pain, typically affecting men and women in the 40-60’s age bracket. Individuals who are pregnant, overweight, or have diabetes are more prone to wearing out the disks in their back. Over time this wear and tear on the discs in your back can create a pinched nerve and cause you to experience sciatica pain. Individuals whose jobs require extensive sitting or heavy lifting also have a higher risk for developing sciatica.
The main goal when experiencing sciatic pain is to figure out a way to relieve the pressure on the nerve by removing whatever is creating the compression to alleviate the pain. There are a variety of ways to decrease the pressure on the nerve, including physical therapy.
It has been found that 20-30 percent of individuals who have suffered from acute sciatic pain have experienced a reoccurrence, compared to most others, whose pain is usually over in days or weeks. It’s important to understand the root cause of your sciatic pain and what you can individually do to prevent future nerve pain and potential damage.
Physical therapy is one of the most powerful tools in combatting sciatic pain. Why?
A physical therapist can develop a treatment plan for you that will focus on strengthening the muscles that will help better support your spine and relieve nerve compression. If there are components like muscle spasms, trigger points, or joint movement dysfunction, manual therapy is a great resource to mobilize the joints or soft tissue and remove tension or compression on the sciatic nerves. Your physical therapist will be able to assess your movement and understand exactly where your sciatica is originating from as well as compile stretches, gentle exercises, and hands-on movement to get the sciatic nerves back to normal without compression.
Some sciatic pain can be treated by first utilizing mechanical and manual lumbar traction, which will help stretch the tensed muscles either by hands-on mobilization or with the use of mechanical assistance. The overall goal of spinal traction is to reduce compression in the lumbar disks and alleviate pain due to any compounded pressure on the spine and nerves.
Many people think that whenever they feel discomfort from the sciatic nerves, rest is the only option until the pain is gone. Actually, it’s quite the opposite! Of course, listen to your body and take the rest that you need, but the blood and nutrients in your body are able to flow easier and support the body better when your body is mobile. If you’re experiencing sciatic pain, going for an easy walk can get the blood pumping to support proper nerve functioning and help reduce pain!
If you’re one of the millions of individuals who experience sciatica pain every single day, you should Schedule an Appointment today to connect with a licensed physical therapist near you to get a comprehensive assessment and treatment program that is designed to help you alleviate your sciatica pain and get back to doing the things you love. Your personal physical therapist will work with you to help you identify things that could be contributing to your nerve compression and sciatica pain, and help you alleviate pain and restore proper function.
Schedule a Physical Therapy Appointment Today at one of our hundreds of clinics across the United States!
