Sciatica Exercises for Sciatica Pain Relief

For most instances of sciatica pain, a specific, controlled, progressive exercise program that is tailored around the underlying cause of the sciatic pain will be part of the recommended treatment program. The specific sciatica exercises serve two main purposes:

• Reduces the sciatic pain in the near term
• Provides conditioning to help prevent future recurrences of the pain

A physical therapist, chiropractor, physiatrist (PM&R, or Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation physician), certified athletic trainer (ATC), or other spine specialist who treats the leg pain and other symptoms will typically prescribe specific exercises and teach the patient how to do them.

• See also Sciatica Exercise Videos

Exercise Provides Sciatica Pain Relief

While it may seem counterintuitive, exercise is usually better for relieving sciatic pain than bed rest. Patients may rest for a day or two after their sciatic pain flares up, but after that time period, inactivity will usually make the pain worse.
Without exercise and movement, the back muscles and spinal structures become deconditioned and less able to support the back. The deconditioning and weakening can lead to back injury and strain, which causes additional pain. In addition, active exercise is also important for the health of the spinal discs. Movement helps exchange nutrients and fluids within the discs to keep them healthy and prevent pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Typical features of any sciatica exercise program include:

• Core muscle strength. Many sciatica exercises serve to strengthen the abdominal and back muscles in order to provide more support for the back. Stretching exercises for sciatica target muscles that cause pain when they are tight and inflexible. When patients engage in a regular program of gentle strengthening and stretching exercises, they can recover more quickly from a flare up of sciatica and are less likely to experience future episodes of pain.
• Specific diagnosis. Most exercise programs will be tailored to address the underlying cause of the patient’s sciatic pain, such as a lumbar herniated disc or spinal stenosis. Doing the wrong type of exercise can worsen the sciatic pain, so it is important to get an accurate diagnosis prior to starting a program of sciatica exercises.

Hamstring stretching. Regardless of the diagnosis, most types of sciatica will benefit from a regular routine of hamstring stretching. The hamstrings are muscles located in the back of the thigh. Overly tight hamstrings increase the stress on the low back and often aggravate or even cause some of the conditions that result in sciatica.

Exercise correctly. As an adjunct to the above point, doing the right exercises but doing them without proper form can make the exercises relatively ineffective, and possibly may lead to continued or increased pain. It is generally advisable to learn the exercises under the guidance of an appropriately trained health practitioner, such as a physical therapist, chiropractor or physiatrist.

Aerobic exercises. In addition to specific sciatica exercises, aerobic conditioning may also be encouraged for general body fitness. Walking is an excellent form of exercise for the low back because it is relatively low impact but can provide all the benefits of an aerobic workout. If possible, it is best to gradually progress to doing up to three miles of exercise walking at a brisk pace each day.

Caring for sciatica should be considered part of one's daily living, not just something to add to the routine at the end of the day. In addition to an exercise routine, patients with sciatica should minimize everyday stress on the lower back, including using appropriate ergonomics while lifting, maintaining good posture, making sure the lower back is supported while sitting, and avoiding sitting or standing for long periods of time.

Article courtesy of Ron S. Miller, PT  and Spine-Health

Though these exercises may provide some relief of sciatic pain, most of our patients with these types of symptoms benefit greatly from chiropractic and spinal decompression.  Total Health of Naples offers non-surgical spinal decompression treatment to alleviate the pain associated with stenosis, herniated discs and bulging discs.  Don't delay call our Naples, FL chiropractic and spinal decompression office today at 239-260-1426 or go to www.totalhealthnaples.com to schedule your consultation to see how we can help.

What is a TPI Certified Professional ?

This article was originally posted on the TPI website by lead instructor Dave Phillips.  It gives a profound understanding about the different certifications offered by TPI.

The TPI certification program was formed in 2005 and has many different tracks.  All TPI certified professionals take the Level one certification class that gives them the tools necessary to identify that your body is the reason you swing the way you do. The class also gives them some basic tools to help fix your problem. After level one the individual chooses their level of expertise and follows two more tracks in their level of expertise to further refine their ability to help the golfer.

The tracks that are available are: 

Fitness level 2 and 3: This gives the fitness professional the tools necessary to build exercise programs and progressions to build strength, speed, mobility and stability in the golfer.

Medical Level 2 and 3: This track takes the medical professional into advanced screening to pinpoint and create a plan to find and attack injuries, they also learn how to provide rehabilitation for injured golfers of all levels.

Golf Mechanics Level 2 and 3: Designed for the golf professional that wants to improve their dignostic skills and capabilities these classes look into ball flight, club fitting advanced biomechanics of the full swing and shortgame to help develop the golf professional that wants to enhance their ability to help any level of golfer.

Golf Coaching Level 2 and 3: These advanced coaching classes teach golf professionals how to coach by understanding motor learning and how to create and build practice programs to prepare students for any level of competition.

Power Level 2 and 3: Attended by Fitness, Golf and Medical professionals that are interested in learning how to develop speed and power the correct way. This explores the body, biomechanics and club fitting in order to maximize a students ability to create power. Faculty include five times world long drive champion Jason Zubak.

Junior Coach Level 2 and 3: This class is designed for those individuals seeking to understand the science and research behind children and looks at growth velocity, bio logical age and when and what age juniors should be learning skill and training for power.
As you can see TPI is truly a university and currently has over 10000 TPI Certified professionals in 57 countries. As of the end of the 2012 golf season, of the top 30 golfers in the world rankings 23 of them were working with TPI Certified teams. If you want to find a TPI Certified Expert to help you with your game, click on the TPI Certified tab and find an expert in your area by simply putting in your zip code. If you want to take your game to the next level, get stronger, injury free and have a better overall golf game, you owe it to yourself to get evaluated by one of the amazing men and women that are TPI Certified.

Total Health of Naples is the only facility in town that has a TPI certified doctor.  Our chiropractor, Dr. Michael J. Paralovos has been certified by TPI since 2009 and since then has treated hundreds of golf related injuries.  Dr. Paralovos originally sought out the TPI certification as he himself is golf enthusiast and has treated many PGA touring pros.  If your game is being limited by pain, insufficient recovery contact Total Health of Naples today to see how we can help.  Go to www.totalhealthnaples.com or call 239-260-1426 to schedule your appointment today!