How Can Physical Therapy Help My Sciatica?
Physical Therapy and Sciatica
Physical Therapy is beneficial for people with sciatica for many different reasons. Therapy can help manage inflammation, improve daily function, and prevent future exacerbations of symptoms. Sciatica is best defined as irritation or inflammation along the pathway of the sciatic nerve which branches from your lower back, through your hips and down each leg, innervating many muscles.
Sciatica is described as pain on one side, from the low back to the buttock, down the back of the thigh and sometimes reaching the calf. This pain is often accompanied by numbness and/or tingling, may present as a mild ache, or a sharp burning sensation and may get worse with prolonged sitting. Increased abdominal pressure may make it worse, such as when sneezing or coughing. Although described as “sciatica”, the symptoms experienced will vary from person to person.
There are many possible causes for pain that travels down the leg. This may be described as “radiating pain”. However, true radiculopathy includes diminished reflexes, sensation loss/changes, and weakness. Some causes of sciatic symptoms include hamstring strains, a herniated disc, tissue degeneration, spinal stenosis, small stress fractures, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and piriformis syndrome. Your physical therapist can determine the root of the cause by using special neurodynamic testing.
Without understanding the reason for your sciatic symptoms, it may be difficult to treat your symptoms with long term relief. A great physical therapist will give you a specific plan of care to address the cause of the pain with the goal of resolving this episode and preventing future exacerbations. Specific exercises will target underlying causes. For example, if the cause of the pain is from a herniated disc, exercises will include putting your spine in a position to encourage extension, taking pressure off of the disc and decreasing pain. Acute cases of sciatica usually get better with 4-6 weeks of physical therapy. Chronic sciatic pain that has lasted for over 8 weeks may take longer to resolve in PT.
You and your physical therapist will become a team in order to get yourself better. Being consistent with home exercises and focusing on correct form will take you a long way. This is key in getting the maximum benefits of your treatments.
Some general goals for physical therapy may include:
Increase core strength, including the low back, abdomen, glutes, and hips.
Stretching to loosen tight muscles, such as the hamstrings
Increase circulation with light aerobic exercises like walking, swimming, stationary recumbent cycling, and using the elliptical.
While you may be able to find temporary relief on your own with home remedies, a physical therapist at Evolve will work with you in order to treat the underlying cause of the issue and provide long term relief.
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