Physiotherapy has been proven effective in reducing inflammation and easing muscle tension to alleviate pain caused by sciatica. The goal of physio is to reduce symptoms of sciatica and enable patients to engage in their favourite activities pain-free. Our team of physiotherapists here at Head2Toe Carrigaline, Cork will provide personalised care to determine the root cause of your sciatica and develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Book Your Appointment Today
Sciatica is a term used to describe pain that travels from the back of the buttock down the leg, all the way to the feet and toes. The pain is often caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve, usually at the buttock level or in the lower back where the nerve roots originate. Other symptoms can include tingling, altered sensation, and muscle weakness. Contrary to common belief, however, lower back pain is not a requirement for experiencing sciatica. It is possible to have leg pain and symptoms in the lower limb without any accompanying back pain.
Sciatica is characterised by pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. The most common cause of sciatic pain is a herniated disc in the lumbar spine, which can cause compression of the sciatic nerve. Another common cause is spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spaces within your spine that can also put pressure on the sciatic nerve.
The types of pain and symptoms for sciatica can vary however some common symptoms may include:
When visiting Head2Toe here is Carrigaline for physio to help in treating sciatica, the focus is often on low back pain and the pain radiating down the back of the leg. Through a diagnosis, that may involve an x-ray to rule out other potential causes, a tailored plan can be created for the management of sciatica.
Our physiotherapists aim to alleviate pain and improve function through effective treatment options such as exercise programs designed specifically for each individual’s needs. By targeting the underlying issues that causes sciatica, whether degenerative or due to nerve root compression, the focus is on reducing the pain radiating from the lower back.
The objectives of physical therapy and exercise for sciaticare are to help with:
Once sciatica is diagnosed, patients may be referred to a physio clinic such as us for expert physiotherapy and exercise to help reduce pain and strengthen the muscles around the affected area.
Exercises to help with sciatica may include stretches and strengthening exercises such as, but will be dependant of the person and problem:
Physiotherapy involves non-invasive methods to ease muscle tension and facilitate the healing process. Our physiotherapist will help you by creating a tailored treatment plan that can consist of various exercises to not only help with pain and recovery for the short term but also for the long term. As well as physiotherapy our therapist may also use other forms of treatment such as dry neediling, which is used to treat trigger points in muscles.
Once sciatica is diagnosed, a treatment plan based on conservative treatment such as physical therapy, manual therapy and strengthening exercises. However other forms of treatment that we offer, which can support is dry needling.