Using Sciatica Physical Therapy for Treatment
If you suffer from sciatica, then you certainly know what pain is all about. Sciatica can cause some of the most serious pain in the world, and so whether you or someone you know is dealing with this condition, you will want to be aware of all the different methods of treatment that are available.
What it is
Sciatica is a term that refers to achiness that may include tingling or numbness along the sciatic nerve. It includes any condition that is characterized by pain along the course of the sciatic nerve, and may develop in men, women, or children. Even pregnant women often develop sciatica, and it often even becomes so serious that it is considered as being potentially dangerous, possible even deadly.
Sciatica Physical Therapy
One of the most commonly recommended methods of treatment for sciatica is sciatica physical therapy. First you need to know that exercise is not helpful for acute back pain, and rather it may even make the condition worse than it was to begin with.
However, sciatica physical therapy can be quite helpful because it focuses on the particular areas of the body that are in pain and helps to alleviate this pain. Activities such as walking, stationary biking and swimming are all considered as being beneficial ideas for sciatica physical therapy, however walking and jogging are frowned upon, at least at the initial onset of the condition. This is primarily because it is too stressful on the legs and spine.
Therapeutic sciatica physical therapy helps the patient to increase flexibility and build a stronger body. The patient should have a physical therapist who is someone that will be there to guide them through the exercises and to provide an easy to follow plan which will help the patience to enable continued progress, even once outside of the rehab facility.
Then there are also passive treatments, which would include such therapies as ultrasound, myofascial release, and cold/heat therapies. These therapies are usually administered to a patient before exercise to warm and ready the body for movement.
The most important thing is that you get a proper assessment before going ahead with any type of treatment, regardless of how mild you think it may be. If you use the right treatment, then you just may end up making your condition even worse than it was to begin with. As a result you may end up requiring surgery, something that you obviously want to avoid as much as you can.
