Ways to prevent common causes of sciatic nerve pain

Sciatic Nerve Pain

Sciatica is a particularly bothersome form of lower back pain because it extends into one of your legs as well. Sciatic nerve pain can make it difficult to move from a sitting to a standing position and vice versa.

Sciatic nerve pain has a few different causes. Some can be unavoidable, such as diabetes or aging, but other causes may be prevented with some simple lifestyle changes.

Causes of sciatica nerve pain and their preventions

  • Cause — Weak or tense muscles in the back and abdomen. Weak and tense muscles do not properly support the spine. This puts more of the responsibility of supporting your upper body weight on your spine. More weight on the spine increases pressure on its nerves, which can lead to sciatica.
  • Prevention — Regularly exercising and stretching your back, abdomen and hamstring muscles can help treat and prevent sciatic nerve pain.
  • Cause — Being overweight. Excess body weight puts additional pressure on your spine, which can lead to the development of sciatica.
  • Prevention — Losing weight helps reduce pressure off the spine. Dieting and exercising are tried and true methods for cutting excess weight. Talk to a physical therapist or your doctor if you have any questions about what kinds of methods you should pursue for weight loss.
  • Cause — Sitting for too long. Many people have jobs that require them to sit at a desk for hours on end. This puts strain on your lower back, which can eventually develop into sciatica. 
  • Prevention — Introduce more physical activity into your daily routine. Get up from your desk for 10 to 15 minutes every hour to stretch and move around. Also, you need to avoid slouching and any other poor posture habits that can contribute to stress in your lower back. 

Visit Excel Sports and Physical Therapy for sciatic nerve pain treatment

Sciatic nerve pain can keep you from enjoying your favorite activities and from spending time with your friends and family. Don’t let sciatic nerve pain slow you down. Our team at Excel Sports and Physical Therapy can help reduce and prevent sciatica. Contact our team today for more information about sciatic nerve pain treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.