Exercising is already difficult enough for many people, yet when you add sciatica into the mix, it can be even more difficult. The irony with sciatica is it’s often improved upon through the act of exercising. This may certainly seem to be counterintuitive, yet it will most likely help improve your sciatica symptoms. The human body was made to move, yet with sciatica, it can feel as though it’s quite the opposite. Read on to learn more about how exercise may be just the thing you need to help improve your sciatica condition.
Soft Tissue Stimulation with Heat
When you’re beginning to think about exercising, it’s important to warm up some of your soft tissue muscles prior to starting said exercise. A warm bath or heating pad can do wonders for your circulation and get the blood flowing in the right areas. Additionally, light stretching after warming up can possibly allow you to perform better during your exercise routine.
Low-Impact Exercises
Obviously, if you’re suffering with sciatica, you’ll want to take it easy while you’re exercising. Low-impact exercises such as swimming or using an elliptical machine will allow you to have a great workout while not worsening your sciatica condition. You’ll want to avoid harsher, higher-impact exercises such as running or hiking, as this may aggravate your sciatic nerve.
Exercising Regularly
When exercising, it’s important to be consistent if you’d like to see results. Without consistency, there will likely be little to no improvement. With this being said, it’s also important to listen to your body and know when to take a day off and rest as well. Regular exercise has been shown to improve sciatica symptoms over time, so it’s probably best to at least try to maintain somewhat of a consistent schedule with your exercise routine.
Choosing Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants for Your Sciatica Care
If you’ve been experiencing sciatica and would like to learn more about how we can help you regain your health and wellness once again through various physical therapy programs, you’ll want to contact us below. We’ll be sure to respond to your message as soon as possible. We know you no longer want to deal with sciatica and we want you to be back to 100% again! We look forward to hearing from you soon!
DISCLAIMER: No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.