Pain starting in your lower back and radiating through the buttocks and down your leg is commonly recognized as sciatica, a collection of symptoms common to irritation and inflammation of the sciatic nerves.
While rest may be a good idea in the first 24 hours after a flare-up, further inactivity won’t help to resolve your pain. Staying active -- in the right way -- can help you heal faster.
The team at Active Care Chiropractic & Rehabilitation in Lafayette Hill, the Main Line, East Falls, Elkins Park, Manayunk and Hatfield, Pennsylvania are ready to help when sciatica strikes. We’ve included our best tips for staying active while you receive treatment for your condition. Add these to your routine today.
Low-impact gentle movement, such as walking, biking, and swimming, stimulates circulation, which in turn helps to control inflammation while maintaining flexibility. Choosing activities that support spinal stability can also reduce your risk of recurrence.
Remaining inactive after a sciatica episode begins can leave you afraid to move due to the sharp, stabbing pain that accompanies certain motions. Gentle activity helps you control your body and reduce conditions likely to lead to pain spasms.
Consider these suggestions when you’re coping with a sciatica attack.
The safest and most effective of low-impact activities, walking is manageable by virtually anyone suffering from sciatica. Start with a distance that’s manageable with your current symptoms and extend your duration as it becomes comfortable.
Break up long sitting sessions to relieve lower back strain and pressure on the sciatic nerve. Stand up and walk around for a minute or two every 30 to 60 minutes. This gives your sciatic nerve a break and prevents stiffness over long work sessions.
The key is gentle, strategic stretching to further reduce pressure on the sciatic nerves. Concentrate on the lower back, hamstrings, hip flexors, and piriformis and avoid aggressive stretching that produces radiating or sharp pain. Ask our team for suggestions suitable for your condition.
When your body can handle it, add additional low-impact exercise to walking. Water aerobics, stationary cycling, and swimming feature low stress on your spine while providing cardiovascular health benefits.
Small changes to your workstation may add up to big differences on your posture and lower back strain. Focus on your chair, chair and desk height, and eye-level monitors to hold your posture in a neutral, balanced position.
Listen to your body, regardless of which tips you add. You may feel mild soreness, but your sciatica shouldn’t feel elevated. Additional numbness, sharp pain, or weakness are signs you need additional care.
Contact Active Care Chiropractic & Rehabilitation at the nearest of our six locations. Call 215-836-8888 to book with any office, or click the appointment request tool on this page to schedule your visit now.
