Sciatica
Pain, stiffness, an injury that won’t heal — if it’s keeping you from moving normally, we likely treat it. Here are the conditions we see most across our 8 Texas clinics. No referral needed to start.
What is Sciatica ?
Herniated Discs: A disc in the spine pinches on the sciatic nerve.
Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal compresses the nerve.
Piriformis Syndrome: The piriformis muscle in the buttocks irritates the nerve.
Spondylolisthesis: A vertebra slips out of place, compressing the nerve.
Common Symptoms
Pain radiating from the lower back to the buttock and down the leg
Numbness or tingling in the leg or foot
Muscle weakness in the affected leg
Difficulty standing up or sitting down due to pain
THE ROLE OF PHYSICAL THERAPY
Reduce Pain: Through various modalities and exercises, physical therapists help decrease inflammation and alleviate pain.
Improve Mobility: Stretching and mobilization exercises enhance flexibility and reduce stiffness in the spine and lower body..
Strengthen Muscles: Strengthening exercises, particularly for the core and lower back, provide better support for the spine.
Prevent Recurrence: Education on body mechanics and posture helps prevent future episodes of sciatica.
Key Physical Therapy Interventions
Pain Relief Techniques: Modalities such as heat and cold therapy, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation can provide immediate pain relief and reduce inflammation.
Corrective Stretching exercises: Targeted stretches for the hamstrings, piriformis, and lower back muscles help relieve tension and improve flexibility. For example
Piriformis Stretch: Lying on your back, cross one leg over the opposite knee and gently pull the lower leg toward your chest.
Hamstring Stretch: Sitting on the floor with one leg extended, reach toward your toes while keeping your back straight
Strengthening Exercises: Building strength in the core and lower back muscles is crucial for providing spinal support and reducing the risk of recurrence. Examples include.
Pelvic Tilt: Lying on your back with knees bent, gently tilt your pelvis upward and press your lower back into the floor.
Bridges: Lying on your back with knees bent, lift your hips toward the ceiling, squeezing your glutes at the top
Manual Therapy: Hands-on techniques, such as spinal mobilization, manual decompression techniques, nerve decompression techniques, soft tissue techniques, help reduce muscle tension, improve range of motion, decompress nerve and enhance spinal alignment..
Postural Education: Physical therapists educate patients on proper posture and body mechanics to avoid positions and movements that may aggravate sciatica. This includes advice on ergonomics for sitting, standing, and lifting.
