How to Relieve Sciatica with Chiropractic and Stretching
If you have had sciatica, you know how painful and uncomfortable it can be. This type of pain comes from the lower back, traveling down the buttocks and into your legs and feet. Fortunately, there are ways to relieve sciatica, including having a chiropractor come to your home and stretching.
How does chiropractic help relieve sciatica?
Here’s a guide on how to help relieve sciatica with a chiropractor and stretching, but first, let’s learn about what sciatica is and what causes it.
About Sciatica Pain
The sciatic nerve is known as the longest nerve in our bodies. If we experience sciatic pain, it can cause severe discomfort in the entire lower body, from the back to the toes!
This pain is referred to as sciatica. Most people experience sciatica on only one side of the body, ranging from mild to severe.
Sciatica can come in different forms, such as numbness, tingling, pain or weakness around the lower back, buttocks, legs, feet and toes. When you experience sciatic nerve pain, it can be so excruciating that you can’t get out of bed or off the couch.
Common causes of sciatica pain:
Ruptured or herniated disk pressing on the nerve
Bone spur pressing on the nerve
Spinal stenosis, or narrowing of your spinal canal
Nerve entrapment from tight muscles and fascia
Pressure on the nerve from inflammation/swelling
Injuries to the nerve from trauma
Sciatica can resolve on its own over an extended period of time, but of course, if you are suffering with sciatic pain, you would probably like some relief now. Additionally, if sciatica is left untreated, it may lead to permanent nerve damage. There are other types of treatments to relieve sciatic pain, such as pain medication and steroid injections.
However, not everyone wants to take pain medication or steroids, which can affect their daily lives and overall health. Fortunately, there are other options that can help with sciatica, such as chiropractic adjustments and daily stretching.
How to Relieve Sciatica with Chiropractic and Stretching
Why go to a chiropractor near me for sciatic pain?
Chiropractic is an excellent place to start because chiropractors focus on spinal manipulation and manual therapies that help treat spinal conditions, injuries and relieve pain. Here are some ways chiropractic care helps relieve sciatica:
They can diagnose your sciatic pain based on your medical history, examination and other necessary tests.
Manual therapies (including massage) can be used to relieve sciatic pain. This therapy induces deep muscle relaxation and releases endorphins that act as a natural painkiller.
Heat and cold therapies provide quick relief from pain. The heat releases tight muscles, while cold therapies slow down blood flow, easing symptoms of inflammation.
Spinal decompression can relieve any nerve compression causing sciatic pain by lengthening the spine to enhance space between your vertebrae.
Ultrasound and other modalities help improve blood circulation, lessen cramps and swelling, along with pain and muscle spasms.
The most crucial therapy, however, is the chiropractic adjustment. Chiropractors perform spinal manipulations, which help your herniated disc reposition and reduce swelling, taking pressure off the sciatic nerve. Such adjustments can increase spinal movement, restoring the misaligned vertebral discs.
Chiropractic adjustments can vary, ranging from quick high-velocity thrusts to using gentle pressure with minimal force. Chiropractors will move your lower back gently to avoid pressing on your sciatic nerve. As a result, your pain is lessened, and you gain more mobility and nerve flow.
Regular chiropractic adjustments will use these manipulations to relieve any other pain or muscle spasms, helping provide long-term relief.
In addition to chiropractic adjustments and traditional therapies, chiropractors can also recommend lifestyle changes, including adding proper posture, stretching and exercise. Stretches are crucial to help keep your bones and joints strong and lessen the chances of injuries or slipped discs that cause pain.
Stretches to help manage your sciatica:
Modified Cobra Stretch to Relieve Sciatica
To perform the modified cobra stretch, simply lie on your tummy with your legs together and extended. Your toes should be pointing out, your forearms and palms on the floor and close to the body.
Now, push up from the palms, partially straightening your elbows. This will bring your chest and tummy off the ground. Hold the pose for a few seconds and go back to your original position on the floor. Repeat the stretch ten times.
Knees to Chest to Relieve Sciatica
In this exercise, all you need to do is to lie on your back then slowly hug your knees all the way to your chest for about half a minute. Repeat this stretch three times in a row, a few times a day to help relieve sciatica.
Seated Spinal Twist to Relieve Sciatica
Sit up with your legs in front of you. Bend your right leg, placing the right foot out of the left knee. Then, twist your body to the right, holding the post for 15-30 seconds. Repeat this stretch on the left side.
Low Lunge to Relieve Sciatica
For the low lunge, step your left leg out in front of you, bending your knee to a 90-degree angle with your right foot flat against the floor. Then, lift your torso, putting your hands on the left thigh. Your left knee shouldn’t go over the toes and lift your torso enough to stretch the hips.
Hold the pose for half a minute, then do the same thing with the opposite part of your body. Feel more of the stretch by raising your arm above your body. When doing this, keep your elbows close to the ears.
There are also other stretches you can do, such as:
Pigeon pose
Hip rotators with a foam roller
Scissor hamstrings stretch
Back flexion stretches
If your sciatic pain persists for a week or more with no improvement, then it’s best to go to a doctor for further treatment.
Wrapping It Up
Up to 43% of the world’s population will experience sciatic pain at one point in their lives. While extremely uncomfortable, it is treatable with medication or traditional care. You can lessen the pain or prevent it from happening through regular chiropractic care and proper exercises and stretching.
If you would like to schedule an appointment with a reputable chiropractor, don’t hesitate to contact us today! We provide high-quality services to help you and your body move the way they should.
