Easy Exercises to Relieve Sciatica Pain
With the right sets of exercises performed in an equally right manner, one can stop the pains of sciatica while keeping the back muscles strong and healthy.
Most people believe that bed rest is the best treatment for sciatica.
However, this is untrue.
Although resting for a day or two can actually help relieve the pain temporarily, sciatica symptoms will just become apparent once more as physical activity is lessened.
Worse, the pain may just become doubled.
The reason behind this is the weakening of the spine and back muscles as it misses the usual movement and activity it is used to experiencing.
Aside from sciatica, a weakened back may even lead to more serious injuries and thus elevating the pain that the patient is going through.
Moreover, exercise is highly important for the spine as it keeps the spinal discs in good order and excellent health.
Below are the group of muscles and the recommended sciatica exercises that you may carry out to relieve common sciatica pains.
Core muscle workout A core muscle workout routine involves the back, stomach, groin and hip muscles.
These muscles are basically responsible for supporting the spine properly.
Once these muscles are not properly worked out and conditioned, they may compress and put pressure on the spine.
Moreover, unconditioned core muscles will also lead to poor posture and other health problems, which may also be related to sciatica.
Generally, a core workout includes back exercises such as leg lifts, bicycle kicks, balance exercises and several sessions of back stretches.
Stretching the core muscles mentioned above will help keep them conditioned and prepared to support the spine appropriately.
Basically, tightened muscles are more prone to straining and are more likely to pull the hips and spine out of proper alignment.
Stretching bouts must be performed before and after back exercises sessions.
These stretching exercises include simple routines, such as touching the toes.
Depending on your needs and your condition, you may be asked by your athletic trainer to do more active stretching exercises.
Hamstrings workout Aside from back exercises, strengthening and stretching the hamstrings is also known to alleviate sciatica symptoms that are most apparent through the legs and lower back.
The hamstrings are the long muscles positioned at the back of the thighs.
When these muscles are tensed, they may compress on the knees and hips.
Strong and limber hamstrings can definitely help you achieve and maintain a healthy lower back.
A popular hamstring exercise is performed by lying flat on your back, then pulling your legs up to a 45 degrees angle.
Next, one of the legs must be crossed with the other, and then the legs are pulled towards the chest.
The position should be held for about a minute and then released gradually.
The same must be done with the other leg.
Most people believe that bed rest is the best treatment for sciatica.
However, this is untrue.
Although resting for a day or two can actually help relieve the pain temporarily, sciatica symptoms will just become apparent once more as physical activity is lessened.
Worse, the pain may just become doubled.
The reason behind this is the weakening of the spine and back muscles as it misses the usual movement and activity it is used to experiencing.
Aside from sciatica, a weakened back may even lead to more serious injuries and thus elevating the pain that the patient is going through.
Moreover, exercise is highly important for the spine as it keeps the spinal discs in good order and excellent health.
Below are the group of muscles and the recommended sciatica exercises that you may carry out to relieve common sciatica pains.
Core muscle workout A core muscle workout routine involves the back, stomach, groin and hip muscles.
These muscles are basically responsible for supporting the spine properly.
Once these muscles are not properly worked out and conditioned, they may compress and put pressure on the spine.
Moreover, unconditioned core muscles will also lead to poor posture and other health problems, which may also be related to sciatica.
Generally, a core workout includes back exercises such as leg lifts, bicycle kicks, balance exercises and several sessions of back stretches.
Stretching the core muscles mentioned above will help keep them conditioned and prepared to support the spine appropriately.
Basically, tightened muscles are more prone to straining and are more likely to pull the hips and spine out of proper alignment.
Stretching bouts must be performed before and after back exercises sessions.
These stretching exercises include simple routines, such as touching the toes.
Depending on your needs and your condition, you may be asked by your athletic trainer to do more active stretching exercises.
Hamstrings workout Aside from back exercises, strengthening and stretching the hamstrings is also known to alleviate sciatica symptoms that are most apparent through the legs and lower back.
The hamstrings are the long muscles positioned at the back of the thighs.
When these muscles are tensed, they may compress on the knees and hips.
Strong and limber hamstrings can definitely help you achieve and maintain a healthy lower back.
A popular hamstring exercise is performed by lying flat on your back, then pulling your legs up to a 45 degrees angle.
Next, one of the legs must be crossed with the other, and then the legs are pulled towards the chest.
The position should be held for about a minute and then released gradually.
The same must be done with the other leg.