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Back Pain Treatment: Sciatica… A Real Pain In The Butt! (Part 2)

Back Pain

is a very common problem in people suffering with . As I mentionsed in my last post, sciatica is the result of sciatic nerve irritation at some point along the course of the sciatic nerve.

Sometimes the sciatic nerve can become irritatied due to irritation and tightness in the piriformis muscle. This condition is know as . To effectivey treat piriformis syndrome, the following items should be addressed:

  1. Remove any outside factors that irritate the .
  2. Improve the flexibility of the piriformis.
  3. Initiate normal mobility of the sciatic nerve.

Remove Outside Factors
Sciatica can often times be traced to an external factor. The problem I see in most of these cases happens more in men and is related to carrying a wallet or other object in their back pocket. The problem arrises when sitting and and increase in focused pressue over the and nerve. Solution: take the wallet out of your hip pocket. The pain should go away in a few days. The sciatica treatment exercises below will also help.

Increase Piriformis Flexibility
Because of repetitive postures and habitual activities, the piriformis muscle can become tight. Below is a I prescibe to patients with an irritable piriformis.

Piriformis Stretch

Purpose of Exercise

  • Restore flexibility to the piriformis muscle.

Patient Position (To stretch a right piriformis)

  • Lay on your back placing the right foot to the outside of the left knee.
  • Place the right hand on the right pelvis to secure the pelvis
  • Place the left hand on the outside aspect of the lower right thigh.
  • Maintain the left leg in full extension.

Exercise

  • Slowly pull the right leg to the left until a stretch is felt in the right buttocks.
  • Hold for 30 seconds and return to starting position.
  • Repeat 2 times and perform 2 times per day.

Mobilize the Sciatic Nerve
Once the piriformis has been stretched, it’s important to keep the sciatic nerve mobile. Whenever you extend your leg as you take a step, the sciatic nerve needs to be able to slide in relation to the bones, muscles, and ligaments surrounding the nerve. To accomplish this I prescribe this exercise immediately.

Sciatic Nerve Mobilization

Purpose of Exercise

Patient Position

Exercise

More specific can be found in the Erase Your Back Pain program. Have a look here ==> No More Back Pain!

I welcome your questions and comments. Let me hear from you below.

Dedicated to Erasing Your Back Pain,

Malton A. Schexneider, PT, MMSc
Clinical Specialist
Orthopaedic Physical Therapy

3 comments ↓

#1 william haydon

my back surgeon has told me I have a cist on my spine and it has to be removed. due to the fact it is pushing on the nerve.

#2 Mommy2be

I got here from a link about sciatica during pregnancy..hoping to find some excercises to ease the pain. I’m dissapointed because all of the excercises that I see require one to lay flat on their back (a no no during pregnancy).

#3 Dr. Jason B Richards

Very easy to follow directions for a great stretch. This stretch has helped many of my patients when combined with gentle adjustments.
Thanks for being a great resource.

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