Don't Forget to Floss That ..... Sciatic Nerve?

This week I want to talk about Sciatica. Now, Sciatica is not a diagnosis, but merely symptoms such as low back pain, buttock pain, pain down the leg, or even numbness/tingling in the legs, that result from irritation of the sciatic nerve.

The irritation can be caused by pelvic and lumbar structural imbalances, irritation of the nerve roots as they exit the spine, or irritation from soft tissues (muscles, tendons, and ligaments) that come in contact with the sciatic nerve. Since this nerve is the largest and longest in the body, it can become irritated in different areas.

If the sciatic nerve is getting “hung up” or irritated due to any adhesions, a nerve flossing exercise should be very beneficial.

Sciatic Nerve Flossing Exercise

1.Start by sitting in a chair with your back straight, both knees bent to 90 degrees, and both feet towards the floor.

2.You will then straighten/raise the symptomatic leg. Once the leg is straight, simultaneously extend the head backward and point the toes back towards your body.

3.Return back to the starting position, and once there, bend the knee further, point the toes, and flex the neck forward to help floss the nerve the opposite direction.

You can perform 15-20 of these repetitions to help free up the sciatic nerve.

If this exercise does not improve symptoms, it is important to be evaluated by a professional to determine the cause of your symptoms. Chiropractic adjustments have proven to be a very effective treatment for correcting any lumbar or pelvic imbalances and helping to free up the sciatic nerve to improve symptoms.

If you are experiencing “sciatica”, or know someone who is, please share this information with them and contact me with any questions, concerns, or stop by the office for an evaluation!

Dr. Nick Knaup