Sciatica Nerve Stretches for Lower Back Pain
Sciatica nerve stretches are considered by many to be one of the best for treatments for sciatica.
Sciatica stretches are exercises that you can do to ease the pain.
Simple sciatica stretches are very effective as they help in easing the pressure on the sciatic nerves.
These sciatica stretches are also designed to help you gain your mobility. Watch the Video Below…
Stretches and Exercise for Sciatic Pain from Piriformis Syndrome
A common symptom of piriformis syndrome is pain along the sciatic nerve, so it is often thought that piriformis syndrome causes sciatica.
However, piriformis syndrome does not involve a radiculopathy – a disc extending beyond its usual location in the vertebral column that impinges or irritates the nerve root – so it is technically not sciatica.
Instead, with piriformis syndrome, it is the piriformis muscle itself that irritates the sciatic nerve and causes sciatic pain.
The piriformis is a muscle located deep in the hip that runs in close proximity to the sciatic nerve. When the piriformis muscle becomes tight and/or inflamed, it can cause irritation of the sciatic nerve. This irritation leads to sciatica-like pain, tingling and numbness that run from the lower back, to the rear and sometimes down the leg and into the foot.
Piriformis Muscle Stretches
Stretching the piriformis muscle is almost always necessary to relieve the pain along the sciatic nerve and can be done in several different positions.
A number of sciatica nerve stretches for the piriformis muscle, hamstring muscles, and hip extensor muscles may be used to help decrease the painful symptoms along the sciatic nerve and return the patient’s range of motion.
Several of the stretching exercises commonly prescribed to treat sciatica symptoms from piriformis muscle problems include:Supine piriformis stretches
- Lie on the back with the legs flat. Pull the affected leg up toward the chest, holding the knee with the hand on the same side of the body and grasping the ankle with the other hand. Trying to lead with the ankle, pull the knee towards the opposite ankle (Figure 17) until stretch is felt. Do not force ankle or knee beyond stretch. Hold stretch for 30 seconds, then slowly return to starting position. Aim to complete a set of three stretches.
- Lie on the floor with the legs flat. Raise the affected leg and place that foot on the floor outside the opposite knee. Pull the knee of the bent leg directly across the midline of the body using the opposite hand or a towel, if needed (Figure 18), until stretch is felt. Do not force knee beyond stretch or to the floor. Hold stretch for 30 seconds, then slowly return to starting position. Aim to complete a set of three sciatica nerve stretches.
- Lie on the floor with the affected leg crossed over the other leg at the knees and both legs bent. Gently pull the lower knee up towards the shoulder on the same side of the body (Figure 19) until stretch is felt. Hold stretch for 30 seconds, then slowly return to starting position. Aim to complete a set of three stretches.
This is why sciatica nerve stretches are so important when you keep your muscles loose, they help to keep tension off of your sciatic nerve. When visiting your chiropractor can be simple stretching exercises are certain to yoga exercises for sciatic nerve stretches is all it takes to help make our roads safer.
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