Physical Therapy

Suffering from Sciatica? We Can Help!

Sciatica, or sciatic nerve pain, is a type of nerve pain that occurs in your lower back, hips and buttocks that may also radiate down the back of your legs. It also involves experiencing possible tingling or numbness in these regions. In this blog post, more about the symptoms of sciatica and our evidence-based approach at Embark that will help you get out of pain and get back to doing what you love!

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica, or sciatic nerve pain, is a type of nerve pain that occurs in your lower back, hips and buttocks that may also radiate down the back of your legs. It also involves experiencing possible tingling or numbness in these regions. 

The sciatic nerve is the longest and thickest nerve in the human body. It can be up to two centimeters in diameter and begins in the lumbo-sacral region of the lower back. From the lower back, it continues down through the buttocks and back of the legs. Behind the knee, in a region known as the popliteal fossa, the sciatic nerve splits into two branches (the tibial nerve and the common fibular nerve).

There are two different types of sciatica: true sciatica and sciatica-like conditions. True sciatica occurs when there is an injury specifically to the sciatic nerve, whereas sciatica-like conditions are those that cause pain for other reasons related to the sciatic nerve. Some other reasons you may be experiencing similar symptoms may include a disc herniation, osteoarthritis, pregnancy, or cauda equina syndrome, which is why it is always important to be assessed by a physiotherapist to determine what your diagnosis.

How Can Physiotherapy Help?

Physiotherapy and exercises are the first-line interventions for the treatment of sciatic nerve pain. They can be especially helpful in relieving symptoms and preventing future flare-ups. 

When you attend your first appointment at Embark, your physiotherapist will start with an assessment. This includes assessing mobility to determine any restrictions you might have, followed by an assessment of your muscular strength to determine any imbalances or weaknesses that could be contributing to your condition. Then, your physiotherapist will conduct a thorough neurological examination to determine the location, severity and cause of the nerve pain. The physiotherapist will use these assessments findings and objective examinations to determine what the aggravating and easing factors are for you at the individual level. After this, you will receive a specific and personalized treatment plan, as well as exercises that are specific to your type of sciatica, to help relieve your pain faster and have you return to doing what you love.

Ready to Book?

At Embark Physical Therapy, we aim to provide the best care possible that is both personalized and attainable for you. We strive to provide holistic care to promote your health and wellbeing because we understand that “health is not just the absence of disease but a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing.” (WHO, 1948).

 

References

Blankshain, K. (2020). Physical therapy and exercise for sciatica. Spine-health. https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sciatica/physical-therapy-and-exercise-sciatica

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Clevland Clinic. (2023). Sciatica. Clevland Clinic | Health Library | Diseases and Conditions.  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12792-sciatica

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Fairag, M., et al. (2022). Risk Factors, prevention, and primary and secondary management of sciatica: An updated overview. Cureus, 14(11): e31405. DOI 10.7759/cureus.31405 

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WHO. (1948). Constitution.World Health Organization.https://www.who.int/about/governance/constitution

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Written by Celeena George, Bsc Health Sciences

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