Sciatic nerve pain can be incredibly irritating. It oftentimes can be frustrating to feel pins and needles when performing the simplest of daily tasks. Between sciatic nerve flare-ups, light exercise may help lessen the severity of the pain or reduce the frequency of the episodes. Four exercises that may help sciatica include:
1. Yoga
2. Water aerobics
3. Stationary Biking
4. Daily stretching
Spinal muscles need to be strong in order to help prevent sciatic pain. While exercise is critical to spinal health, it does not get to the root cause of sciatica.
Sciatica and Your Neck
Your spinal cord sends signals to and from your brain. Your nerves branch off of your brain and spinal cord. Your spine is designed to protect your spinal cord. When the top bone in your spine (atlas) is out of alignment, it creates spinal cord tension. This tension leads to the signals becoming distorted. Improper signals can lead to postural imbalance, pain, and muscle spasms. One of the ways an atlas misalignment can create low back pain is through muscle imbalance. Muscle tension can increase on one side of the body, causing one hip to be higher than the other. This causes one leg to be slightly shorter than the other.
I am trained in NUCCA – a gentle, specific type of chiropractic that is aimed at correcting the atlas. This gentle approach does not involve any popping or twisting the neck. Through realignment of the atlas, there is reduced pressure on the spinal cord. This leads to proper signals being sent to and from the brain, potentially creating balanced posture. Less muscle tension leads to even hips, possibly reducing sciatica symptoms.
Alibhoy described a case study of a 45-year-old woman who experienced sciatica down both legs, along with other health issues. After approximately one month of specific atlas chiropractic care, her left leg sciatica resolved. Her right leg sciatica had improved 60%. After six months of care, her right leg sciatica had decreased 98%. (2)
References:
1. Sciatica: Of all the nerve - Harvard Health [Internet]. Harvard Health. 2016 [cited 21 March 2016]. Available from: http://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/sciatica-of-all-the-nerve
2. Alibhoy N. Resolution of Fibromyalgia Following Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care: A Case Study. J Upper Cerv Chiro Res [Internet]. 2011 [cited 21 March 2016];2011(June):39-44. Available from: http://www.mccoypress.net/juccr/docs/2011-1059_fibromyalgia.pdf
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