When it comes to finding relief from the debilitating pain of sciatica, you have options. Especially these days, it seems like there are dozens of medications and flashy new treatments all promising lasting relief with little to no effort. However, many of these lightly tested claims fail in the face of real people’s pain, especially for those who have struggled with sciatica for many years.
One of the many options marketed toward sciatica sufferers is physical therapy. But does physical therapy actually work for sciatica?
Physical therapy techniques and exercises for sciatica are evidence-based and rooted in functional medicine. While no treatment can guarantee complete relief for every single patient, physical therapy has an impressive track record when addressing sciatica and other low back pain issues.
Does physical therapy for sciatica work?
The short answer is yes. Physical therapy can help alleviate sciatica symptoms and improve mobility for many people. But the longer answer is that it depends.
Sciatica is a complex condition caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back to your legs. For some individuals, physical therapy may provide significant relief, while for others, the results may not be as satisfying. Factors such as the underlying cause of your sciatica, severity of your symptoms, and your body’s unique response to treatment all play a role in the effectiveness of physical therapy.
That being said, physical therapy is widely recommended as an accessible, affordable first-step treatment for sciatica, especially if you’re looking to avoid invasive procedures like surgery. Physical therapy’s targeted techniques often yield positive results, whether it’s reducing inflammation, improving mobility, or strengthening supporting muscles.
Physical therapy treatment plan for sciatica
You might do any number of things at physical therapy for sciatica, depending on the specific cause and experience of sciatica pain, including:
- Hip exercises: Strengthening the muscles in the hips and increasing their flexibility can make it easier for the area surrounding the sciatic nerve to release tension and reduce compression in the hip joint.
- Core strengthening exercises: Building up strong core muscles often relieves pressure on the lower back with better support. It also may enable better posture for effective prevention of future flare-ups.
- Posture/body mechanics: Learning the best posture for working, relaxing, and sleeping can make a world of difference if you’ve been unknowingly putting too much pressure on one side of your body or sleeping poorly. Depending on your lifestyle, learning proper lifting techniques can also help make everyday life less painful and risky.
- Nerve glides: the sciatic nerve creates pain when it is compressed, restricted, or pinched among the tissues of your lower back and hips. Targeted nerve flexibility treatments can restore fluid motion to the nerve pathway and reduce pain.
- Manual therapy: A foundation of physical therapy, one option for finding the movements and postures that are key to your healing may be manual therapy or joint mobilization.
Timeline of sciatica physical therapy treatment
Unfortunately, relief from sciatica doesn’t happen overnight, but with consistency, most people notice significant improvements over time. Here’s a general timeline of what to expect:
- First few weeks: Pain relief techniques and gentle stretching exercises help reduce acute symptoms. You’ll likely feel a slight decrease in pain and better mobility as you start to move differently in therapy sessions.
- 4-6 weeks: Strengthening exercises become more advanced, leading to noticeable improvements in your posture and stability. Pain should continue to decrease.
- 8-12 weeks: By this stage, most patients experience significant relief from sciatica symptoms. You’ll also gain the tools and knowledge needed for lasting relief.
It’s important to understand that every individual heals at their own pace, and not all progress is linear. Your therapist will always be with you to monitor your progress and adapt your sessions accordingly.
Physical therapy exercises for sciatica
There are so many different exercises and stretches that may be beneficial for certain causes of sciatica that we can’t list them all, especially since not all of them are helpful for every patient. To get the idea of the stretches and exercises you might be doing, here are a few examples of the list:
- Piriformis stretch
- Seated hamstring stretch
- Pelvic tilt
- Bird dog exercise
Sciatica exercises aim to relieve tension, improve flexibility, and strengthen the supportive muscles around your lumbar spine.
Physical therapy for sciatica near me
If you’re tired of living with sciatica pain, our physical therapists can help. At Excel Sports & Physical Therapy, we specialize in creating personalized treatment plans that target your unique pain points effectively.
Start a conversation with our team about your concerns and preferences for treatment by calling a clinic near you or requesting an appointment online today.
