Using these two treatment exercises can help sciatica pain

leg pain when lying down

The lower back is one of the most common places people feel pain. In fact, a report from the National Institutes of Health claims that about 80% of Americans will deal with this type of pain at some point. Sciatica is a condition that’s often linked to lower back pain. This issue occurs when the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back to your feet, is pinched or irritated. 

One of the most beneficial treatment options for sciatica pain is physical therapy exercises. Therapists can show you how to do many exercises to reduce sciatica pain, but there are two exercises that could be particularly helpful to you.

1.  Lower trunk rotations

Tense muscles in the lower back are often a direct cause of sciatica. Physical therapists often prescribe stretching exercises to treat this tension and decrease sciatica pain. One exercise a therapist could recommend is lower trunk rotations. 

Steps for performing lower trunk rotations

  • Lie down on your back on a bed or the floor.
  • Bend both knees so that both of your feet are flat on the floor. 
  • Slowly rotate your lower body to the right until your right leg touches the floor. Be sure to keep your shoulders on the floor.
  • Hold this stretch for 20 to 30 seconds. 
  • Return to the starting position, and then repeat these steps to stretch the opposite side of your lower back. 

 

2.  Sciatic nerve flossing

Sciatic nerve flossing is another sciatica pain treatment exercise that your therapist might recommend. This exercise is designed to manipulate the pinched sciatic nerve, and it’s particularly helpful when this nerve is being pinched by a muscle. 

Steps for performing sciatic nerve flossing

  • Sit on the edge of a stable chair with your upper body and head tilted forward slightly.
  • Slowly straighten the affected leg until it’s straight out in front of you.
  • At the same time, slowly tilt your head backward. 
  • Slowly lower your leg and tilt your head downward to return to the starting position. 
  • Repeat steps until you’ve done eight to 10 repetitions. Your goal should be to do three sets of 10 reps with a short rest break between sets. 

Find more than just sciatic pain treatment exercises at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy

Are you searching for a physical therapy plan that includes, but isn’t limited to, sciatica pain treatment exercises? Excel Sports & Physical Therapy has a plan for you. Our team gathers information about your condition using our free screening service. We’ll then use this information to build a personalized treatment plan for you, and some of the therapy techniques we often use in our plans are: 

Contact our team today for more information about our sciatica treatment options or to schedule your free screening.