Sciatic Pain - Trigger Point Release
Sciatic Pain
A number of studies have shown the benefits of manual therapy for treating sciatica
Sciatica is a symptom of an underlying medical condition, such as a lumbar herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, or spinal stenosis. It is not a medical condition in and of itself.
Overview of Sciatica
The condition is often described as pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve.
This is the largest nerve in the body, beginning at the lower back, and running through the hips and buttocks down to each leg.
In most cases, sciatica affects only one side of the body, but can affect both (bilateral sciatica).
Where symptoms are felt in both legs, it typically means that the cause of the compression, such as a herniated disc, is big enough to compress nerve roots on both sides of the spine.
It is of course possible that two separate conditions have developed on opposite sides of the spine, but this would obviously be a rarity.
In most cases, sciatica develops when the sciatic nerve is compressed by a herniated disk or bone spur.
This causes inflammation, pain, and sometimes numbness in the affected side.
It's worth noting that it's not unusual to come across sciatica in pregnant women due to an irritation of the sciatic nerve during pregnancy.
Treating Sciatic Pain - Stuart Hinds
What Are the Symptoms of Sciatica?
The pain associated with sciatica can vary in degree. We see many clients who experience infrequent pain whilst others suffer so severely from the pain as to be largely incapacitated.
Sciatica is often characterised by the following symptoms. The client may experience only one or a combination:
• Constant pain in one side of the leg or buttock
• Pain worsens when sitting
• Burning, tingling, or searing pain in the leg
• Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the leg or foot
• A sharp pain which might affect the ability to walk or to stand up
Clients often describe how these symptoms worsen when they cough, sneeze, or sit for a long period of time.
Who Is Prone to Sciatica?
The probability of experiencing pain from sciatica peaks in the 50's and then declines.
It is rare to see clients under the age of 20 suffering from this condition.
Those who suffer from degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, lumbar disc diseases, slipped disc, or a trauma or injury to the lumbar spine are the groups who are at a higher risk.
Studies have shown that obesity or even being overweight can increase the risk of sciatica, as the weight will increase stress on the spine.
A job that requires you to twist your back, carry heavy objects, or drive a motor vehicle for long periods of time, may also contribute to increasing the risk factor.
The other group worth noting are diabetes sufferers who are at increased risk because the way that the body uses blood sugar increases the risk of nerve damage.
In summary, whilst there are those cases of sciatica which require more aggressive intervention to deal with the underlying cause, the preferred and most effective treatment in most cases is manual therapy including trigger point therapy, and prescribed stretching and strengthening exercises.
The trigger points commonly (almost always) associated with sciatica are found in piriformis, and gluteus maximus.
It's worth mentioning that Dr. Travell refered to the gluteus minimus as the “Psuedo-Sciatica” muscle because its trigger points can refer pain that mimic the symptoms associated with true neurological sciatica.
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Disclaimer
The information in this article is intended for educational purposes within the context of continuing education for massage therapists, continuing education for athletic trainers, continuing education for physical therapists, continuing education for chiropractors, and continuing education for rehabilitation professionals. It is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and reflect current understanding at the time of publication, practitioners must always work within the legal scope of their professional practice and follow all regional regulatory guidelines.
Hands-on techniques and clinical applications described in this material should only be performed by appropriately trained and licensed professionals. Individuals experiencing pain or symptoms should be referred to a qualified healthcare provider for assessment. Niel Asher Education is not responsible for any injury, loss, or damage resulting from the use or misuse of the information provided in this content.
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