4 useful machine exercises for sciatica
If you enjoy the gym and have sciatica this gives you some ideas of gym machine exercises for sciatica. For some the idea of exercising with sciatica may seem like an absolute no no! It is counterintuitive but physical activity is the best medicine for most musculoskeletal ailments and sciatica is no different. Your starting…
Recovering from Sciatica Do’s and Don’ts
One of the most common questions we hear, which we have written about previously is “How Long Will Sciatica Last?”. Recovering from sciatica seems like a near impossible task when it first strikes, and pain is at its most acute. Just moving left or right or sitting or standing is draining. The good news is…
3 Ways to Overcome Sciatica Pain While Standing
This was a question I was asked recently by one of my patients who was suffering with sciatica pain while standing after a short period of time, as opposed to most sufferers who get sciatic pain after being seated for a period of time. It turned out that they worked at a local supermarket and…
Keep Sciatica After Gardening at Bay
It is that time of year when sciatica after gardening is a very real risk. Often we are full of the winter blues and chomping at the bit to get out there and start tidying up the garden. Even more so now the garden is the only contact with the outside world for many of…
Tips for exercising with sciatica
When you are suffering from sciatic pain the last thing that springs to mind is exercising with sciatica, but as previous blog posts have shown, exercise is one of the best forms of relief for the condition if it is done correctly. Getting advice from a physiotherapist on therapeutic exercises to help you recover is…
4 Tips for Sciatica while walking
The natural instinct after experiencing sciatica while walking, when the pain hits you hard, is to take medication and then sit or lie as still as possible and wait for the worst of the discomfort to abate. With the right level of support for sciatic pain, rest can certainly bring relief. However, there is a…
Spinal stenosis and sciatica
Lumbar spinal stenosis is a condition that causes compression of the nerves in the spine and occurs when the holes that nerves pass through within the spinal bones narrow leading to constriction of spinal nerves and sometimes the spinal cord. In previous blogs we have talked about different conditions that can lead to sciatica symptoms…
Swimming and sciatica
Many people are unaware that sciatica is considered a symptom of a medical condition, and not a medical condition in itself. Sciatic pain is caused by the sciatic nerve experiencing compression as a result of an underlying disorder. Although sciatica is often associated with back pain, it can also affect other areas of the body.…
Sciatica and cycling
Regular bike riders, motorcyclists and professional cycling athletes may be familiar with the phenomenon of bicycling sciatica. Sciatic pain that specifically affects cyclists can be linked to both physical and psychological sources, and will often include a bit of both for a challenging symptomatic profile. Why is it that sciatica and cycling often come together,…
The 3 stages of sciatica recovery
Sciatica pain is rarely a constant problem for sufferers, rather it comes in bouts. These can be more or less severe, sometimes only causing mild discomfort, other times leading to serious pain and impaired mobility. The road to sciatica recovery comes in three stages. Stage 1: Sitting and lying When suffering from a debilitating and…
Exercises to ease sciatica pain
Sciatica nerve pain can be unpleasant. However, the best part is that it’s possible to alleviate the condition without surgical intervention. Exercise is an excellent way to provide Sciatica pain relief. Lack of movement and exercise deconditions the spinal structures and back muscles. The result is that you’re less able to support the back, which…
Running with sciatica – No need to stop
Running with sciatica sounds counterintuitive but it can be done and may be better for you in the long run. You need to pay attention to your symptoms and employ a few useful strategies to help you as you recover. Sciatica can really mess with your running routine. At times it can feel as if…
3 helpful stretches for sciatica
Sciatica is a condition which can be alleviated to some degree by exercises which are intended to strengthen potentially weak muscles and stretch those which are tight. In this article we look at three stretches for sciatica, which depending on the cause of an individual’s sciatica, could help to address symptoms. Now these sciatica stretches…
Yoga for sciatica
Yoga for sciatica is a great way of staying active when you are suffering from sciatic pain. Exercise is important to keep muscles moving, joints lubricated and to stay positive during a flare up. Yoga is a great alternative to more vigorous exercise. This ancient form of exercise is known for its gentle movements as…
Hydrotherapy for sciatica
As well as being painful, sciatica can be a debilitating symptom preventing you from enjoying day-to-day pleasures including exercise. You may be surprised to know that hydrotherapy (using water as a treatment), combined with other methods such as the sciatic pain relief cushion and medication prescribed by your doctor, can be an effective and enjoyable…
How pilates could provide sciatica pain relief
Many experts believe that in order to protect people who suffer from sciatica pain, it is key to ensure you don’t overexercise and cause further irritation. Although traditional pain relief such as applying ice or heat packs or even using painkillers can help relieve some of your symptoms in the short term, exercise in a…
How staying active can be key to fighting sciatica
A few years ago, bed rest could be a common piece of advice given to sciatica pain sufferers, with the thinking being that keeping activities to a minimum would be good for healing the sciatic nerve. In the modern day, however, the benefits of staying active look like outweighing the advantages of doing nothing –…
3 tips for exercising with sciatica
If you’re a keen athlete, then an attack of sciatica may bring more than just physical pain – it can also leave you feeling despondent and unable to do the thing you love. However, the condition doesn’t have to leave you flat on your back. With a little care, you can still stay active while…
Get up, get out, and stretch those legs!
This was regular advice (orders) I used to get from my mother when as a teenager I was lounging about during the Christmas holidays, and to be honest it was good advice that I am passing onto you. As most of you already know sitting for too long is one worst things for aggravating sciatica.…
The Easiest Stretch for Sciatica
Most people when they get an attack of sciatica will Google it and be presented with various methods of stretching that would challenge many a yoga practitioner. Stretching and moving is good and some of these stretches may help to stop any occurrence or re-occurrence of sciatic pain, but they most likely will not help…