Sciatica is a condition that brings with it a lot of pain. Because of the pain, many want pain relievers to help them feel more comfortable and they want to get lots of rest. When you first get sciatica, you may want to spend some time in bed, but it’s a medical fact that sciatica sufferers will benefit more from exercise than bed rest. While rest the first day or two may be helpful, it will become counterproductive after that. There are certain kinds of exercises that are better than others are for sciatica.
Sciatica is not just one symptom of the condition, but rather a group of symptoms that bring on pain caused by the compression or rubbing of one or possibly more nerves from the lower spine. The medical description is when a spinal disc extends past its normal position and begins to rub the nerve root, irritating it in the lower back, where the sciatic nerve is connected. Because there are a few different conditions that can cause sciatica, there are different exercises to help with sciatica. It’s important that you get exercises that strengthen the back and spinal muscles so they can support the back. Without steady exercise, the back will become weak and more susceptible to injuries, causing even more back pain.
It is also important for you to get exercise to keep the spinal discs healthy. Exercise makes the nutrients and fluids move through the discs keeping them healthy.
Other exercises that are great for sciatica are exercises that help strengthen the back and abdominal muscles. The stronger these muscles are, the better they can support the back. A lot of the pain that comes with sciatica comes from the muscles being tight. If the sufferer has a daily exercise program of stretching exercises, the muscles will loosen up, which will help lessen the pain. Not only will this help the current pain, but may also prevent future bouts of pain.
A physical therapist or chiropractor will be able to start you on a good exercise program to help relieve the pain. Before you start on any exercise program, you will need an accurate diagnosis of what is causing the sciatica pain. There are different exercise programs for different causes of sciatica. It is imperative to know the causes before you start on an exercise program to make sure the sciatica isn’t caused by something serious that may need surgery.
In addition to making exercise part of your everyday routine, there are ways to eliminate and lessen the strain on your lower back such as proper lifting, bending, walking and sitting.