sciatica massage treatments
Sciatica massage treatments can be very quick and effective. We see clients with sciatic pain daily! Book in to see our Remedial Massage Therapists or Myotherapists today.
Today for the first time in months I was able to walk without pain in my hips and lower back and legs! Chrissy
What is sciatica?
Sciatica, by definition, is a neurological condition causing sharp or achey pain from compression on the sciatic nerve around the spine or under the piriformis muscle of the hip. But we commonly use the term 'sciatica' to describe pain in the low back that radiates down into the hip, thigh and even lower leg. It can be associated with numbness, tingling or weakness in the leg. It is often more painful when lying down on the affected side, getting up in the morning, after sitting for long periods or after exercise.
How we treat it
Unlike physiotherapy, we have the luxury of long appointment times at Pain Free Fitness: up to a full hour with your therapist or coach. With more hands-on time, we can get much faster results in terms of pain reduction and prevention of recurrence.
We don't just focus on releasing the local area around the piriformis and back of the hip to treat your sciatica. We go much more in depth to our assessment and treatment by addressing your specific regional neuromuscular patterns, biomechanical function and strength balance. From there, we treat by:
We don't just focus on releasing the local area around the piriformis and back of the hip to treat your sciatica. We go much more in depth to our assessment and treatment by addressing your specific regional neuromuscular patterns, biomechanical function and strength balance. From there, we treat by:
- addressing compression on the sciatic nerve itself due to tight muscles of the hip
- addressing the balance or torsion of the pelvis to reduce mechanical pressure on the sciatic nerve
- assessing the function of the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) and ensuring proper co-ordination of the muscles around the lumbopelvic region
- releasing trigger points and muscular tension in the low back to stop referral pain to the hip area
- assessing if there is a peripheral nerve entrapment below the hip and releasing the nerve using massage techniques and nerve stretches (flossing).
getting you back into pain-free activity
Many of our clients express concern about getting back into the gym, sport or activity after stopping because of pain. They have been on the 'merry-go-round' where pain stops when they stop, but returns when they start again. This is where we can bridge the gap between traditional therapy and return to exercise.
The final part of our treatment will include a full movement assessment, taking into account your usual activities or sport. This enables us to establish your 'weakest links' (and likely cause of the issue) while actually performing your activity - not just while on the massage table. For example:
By going through this process, we can fully address the cause of your original pain, and prescribe you a specific program where the exercises constitute the final piece of the therapy puzzle. We use this as an education opportunity, and just about every client we work with has several lightbulb moments during these sessions as to why they move the way they do.
Our goal is for you to be able to self-manage your pain (rather than requiring ongoing therapy) and to re-program the way you move so you don't ever have to put up with this problem again. You will be stronger and have an improved overall foundation to build more strength and better performance.
If this process sounds like something you need, please click the button below to book a massage or myotherapy appointment.
The final part of our treatment will include a full movement assessment, taking into account your usual activities or sport. This enables us to establish your 'weakest links' (and likely cause of the issue) while actually performing your activity - not just while on the massage table. For example:
- For runners, can you stabilise the pelvis and efficiently absorb the forces when you are on one leg mid-stride? And can you then fully extend the hip to push forward, rather than use your low back to generate extension?
- For gym junkies, do your lumbopelvic mechanics start with glute activation, or are the glutes inhibited by overachieving adductors and hip flexors? Is this natural patterning having an impact on your back pain?
By going through this process, we can fully address the cause of your original pain, and prescribe you a specific program where the exercises constitute the final piece of the therapy puzzle. We use this as an education opportunity, and just about every client we work with has several lightbulb moments during these sessions as to why they move the way they do.
Our goal is for you to be able to self-manage your pain (rather than requiring ongoing therapy) and to re-program the way you move so you don't ever have to put up with this problem again. You will be stronger and have an improved overall foundation to build more strength and better performance.
If this process sounds like something you need, please click the button below to book a massage or myotherapy appointment.