Physical Therapy Treatment For Sciatica

Sciatica pain can be deeply uncomfortable and often debilitating. Sciatica is a highly prevalent condition, but many individuals suffer through pain without seeking help. Fortunately, our team at Island Sports Physical Therapy is here to help! We provide advanced rehabilitation to help patients manage their sciatica pain without invasive treatments. Continue reading below to discover physical therapy treatments for sciatica. 

What Is Sciatica? 

Sciatica refers to pain when a nerve in the lower back is pinched, compressed, or injured. Sciatica can cause excruciating pain and other symptoms that extend and radiate from the back to the hip, leg, or foot. This type of pain usually affects people aged 30-50 years old and can stem from a variety of different factors. Some of the risk factors of sciatica may include:

• Obesity.
• Smoking.
• Sedentary Lifestyles.
• Poor Posture.
• Repetitive Lifting.
• Participation in Weight-Bearing Sports.

While sciatica pain symptoms can be disabling, physical therapy is a great way to help patients dealing with this kind of pain. Our therapists at Island Sports Physical Therapy are experienced movement specialists who will properly assess your condition and determine if you have underlying conditions that contribute to your sciatica. Our specialists will design an individualized treatment program to help patients with sciatica reduce their pain, move normally, and get back to an active lifestyle. 

Physical Therapy Treatment For Sciatica

Our specialists at Island Sports Physical Therapy may utilize a combination of various forms of physical and manual therapies when treating sciatica. Your exercise program will depend on the underlying cause of your sciatica and other factors such as your overall fitness and pain level. Here are some of the most common physical therapy treatments for sciatica:

• Strengthening Exercises – Therapeutic strengthening exercises include resistance and bodyweight exercises to improve strength in the lower back, abdomen, hips, and legs. 
• Manual Therapy – Our therapist may perform manual therapy techniques such as mobilization to apply pressure to an afflicted joint to restore range of motion, promote pain relief, and restore normal function. 
• Lifestyle Modifications – In addition to exercise, committing to proper posture while walking, sitting, or standing is vital for treating and preventing sciatica. Our team can help you modify your daily routine, teach you safe lifting techniques, and help you find good sleep postures to further promote pain relief. 
• Heat and Cold Therapy – Our therapists may use heat or cold packs to promote blood flow and reduce spasms and pain. Heat can help relieve pain by reducing muscle stiffness and tension, promoting relaxation, and preparing your body for your physical therapy session. Cold packs cause a numbing effect and restrict blood vessels beneath the skin. Cold therapy can help reduce swelling and pain and slow the reactions that cause inflammation and pain.  

While this list of treatments is not exhaustive, our therapists will typically combine several treatment techniques to ensure optimal treatment. You may find movement hard to bear when your sciatica pain is severe. While rest is essential for recovery, prolonged inactivity can increase your pain. Regular physical activity is necessary to facilitate the flow of healing nutrients to injured areas that cause pain. That is why physical therapy is an essential component of resolving the symptoms and improving the long-term prevention of sciatica. 

Contact Us

Island Sports Physical Therapy specializes in back pain and sciatica relief therapies. We offer advanced therapeutic treatments to our patients and will work with you throughout your recovery to improve your overall function and relieve your pain. Your program will be targeted toward your unique needs and capabilities to ensure the best possible outcome. To learn more about physical therapy treatment for sciatica, be sure to contact our office today and request an appointment!