If you suffer with sciatica, you are aware of how uncomfortable the condition may be. Shooting sensations in your legs and lower back might make it difficult to do basic everyday duties. While sciatica usually improves gradually over time, you don’t have to wait around in pain; instead, you may visit a skilled physiotherapist to get pain relief and restore your back to health as soon as possible.
What can a physiotherapist do to treat sciatica, though? Continue reading as we go over some of the ways visiting a physiotherapist might help with the severe sciatica symptoms.
This blog discusses the various therapies a physiotherapist can employ to treat sciatic nerve pain in patients. Call Specific Physiotherapy right now to make an appointment if you have sciatica and want to get life back on track.
What is sciatica?
The sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back all the way down to the foot, is the biggest nerve in the body. Sciatica is a form of piercing pain that can be experienced when this nerve is compressed and travels the entire length of the nerve. Burning sensations, leg discomfort (particularly while sitting for extended periods of time), difficulty moving the leg, numbness or paralysis, and lower back pain are common sciatica symptoms.
Sciatica may be caused by a number of reasons. The problem manifests as pressure on the sciatic nerve, which can be brought on by normal wear and tear from daily activities, by other conditions like spondylolisthesis, or by an entirely different injury. Although sciatica is a very prevalent and painful ailment, there are techniques to manage the challenging symptoms associated with the diagnosis.
Physiotherapy treatments for sciatica
The sciatic nerve, as well as the musculoskeletal system as a whole, are subjects of specialisation for physiotherapists. Consulting a physiotherapist can help you manage sciatica symptoms and better understand the disorder and how it affects the neurological system. If you’re suffering from the sharp, excruciating pain associated with this condition then it’s important to find the best help available. Several physiotherapy methods that can be used to treat sciatica pain are listed below in brief:
Spinal manipulations
Joint mobilisations and manipulations used in physiotherapy can assist to release pressure from the sciatic nerve. A physiotherapist can assist in realigning the structure of your back into the ideal placement and alignment required to reduce pain by using spinal manipulations. The quick and simple procedure uses light pressure and low force, which can significantly increase spinal function and movement.
Exercise prescription
Pain along the entire sciatic nerve can become worse with certain motions and positions. A physiotherapist is aware of the exercises to avoid and can suggest physical regimens that won’t just prevent the nerve from becoming more inflamed but also relieve some of the strain being placed there. A physiotherapist can assist you in determining what exercises, from stretches to workouts, may help relieve any discomfort that you may be experiencing as a result of tight or inflamed muscles.
Changes in lifestyle
Pain along the entire sciatic nerve can become worse with certain motions and positions. A physiotherapist is aware of the exercises to avoid and can suggest physical regimens that won’t just prevent the nerve from becoming more inflamed but also relieve some of the strain being placed there. A physiotherapist can assist you in determining what exercises, from stretches to workouts, may help relieve any discomfort that you may be experiencing as a result of tight or inflamed muscles.
Hot and cold therapy
Physiotherapists have successfully employed hot and cold therapy to quickly relieve sciatica sufferers’ pain. Physiotherapists are able to alternate between the two, applying heat to loosen up tight muscles and cold to reduce inflammation. A physiotherapist will assess your problems and develop the best treatment plan for your body, regardless of whether both therapies are appropriate for you or whether one might be the most beneficial.
Book a physiotherapy appointment today
Sciatica can be painful and incapacitating. However, physiotherapy can be a fantastically efficient way to manage your pain and make adjustments that will keep your body healthy for years to come. Don’t put up with the pain for another day if you are suffering from sciatica symptoms. The staff at Specific Physiotherapy is prepared to step in and assist in determining the ideal course of treatment for your body and you. Contact Billy Gilhooley at Specific Physiotherapy right away to begin the first step on your road to recovery.
