If you’re struggling with pain radiating from your lower back down to your legs, then you may be dealing with sciatica. This condition is caused by a pinched nerve in the lower spine and can cause debilitating pain. Fortunately, physiotherapy can help manage symptoms of sciatica and improve the overall quality of life. Let’s take a closer look at sciatica and how physiotherapy can help.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica is a term used to describe nerve pain that radiates from the lower back down the leg. It occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes compressed or irritated due to an underlying medical issue such as a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or degenerative disc disease. Common symptoms of sciatica include sharp pain in the lower back, buttock, and/or legs, numbness in the affected area, tingling or burning sensations in the legs and feet, muscle weakness in one leg or foot, difficulty standing up after sitting for long periods of time, or difficulty moving your leg or foot.
How Physiotherapy Can Help
If left untreated, sciatic nerve issues can become more severe over time and lead to chronic pain that has a significant impact on quality of life. That’s why seeking out treatment early is so important. Physiotherapy is one of the most effective treatments for managing the symptoms of sciatica. A trained physiotherapist will be able to pinpoint areas where there are imbalances due to postural issues or muscle tightness that could be contributing to pinching of the nerves leading to symptoms like those mentioned above. A combination of manual therapy techniques such as joint mobilization and soft tissue manipulation along with exercise therapy tailored specifically for patients suffering from sciatica can help reduce inflammation associated with this condition as well as improve posture and strength which will provide better support for your spine and reduce pressure on your nerves.
Sciatica is an incredibly common condition that can have debilitating effects if left untreated. The good news is that physiotherapy is an effective way of managing symptoms and improving the overall quality of life. By working closely with a trained physiotherapist who understands how this condition works, you’ll be able to find relief from painful symptoms associated with this condition while also preventing it from becoming worse over time.
If you have any questions or would like to explore further, please book a free, no-charge online appointment with either myself, Nitin Nair, BPT, R/TRO DIP, PT, or one of the other physiotherapists at CARESPACE Health+Wellness in Kitchener and Waterloo. We are happy to listen and are here to help!
