Sciatica Pain Relief Massage
Sciatica is a common condition which causes discomfort and pain for lots of people. A great way to treat sciatica is through pain relief massages, and here at Injury Mechanics, we are proud to specialise in this area.
What is Sciatica?
Sciatica affects many people, and causes pain down the legs, stemming from the lower back. It is caused by inflammation and compression of the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the body. This compression is often the result of a herniated disk, brought about through heavy lifting, or general wear and tear.
Sciatic nerve pain symptoms
Symptoms of sciatica can vary from mild discomfort to severe pain:
General pain - Anywhere from mild to severe, which can develop slowly or appear suddenly. Often, this pain worsens through movement, or strain such as sneezing or coughing.
Numbness - Usually located in the same areas as pain, numbness or tingling might follow pain in the legs or back. Often, a tingling sensation will run along the length of the nerve.
Weakness - Due to strain and pain, sciatica can cause weakness in the affected area. This can sometimes cause injury.
Reduced range of motion - Because of pain, weakness or otherwise, sciatica may lead to a loss of or reduction in range of motion.
Whilst usually not very severe, these symptoms can get in the way of your life, inhibit physical activity and cause a number of issues. There are ways around this though, a pain relief massage with Injury Mechanics may help reduce the impact of these issues.
Book your Sciatica Massage Appointment
Types of massage for Sciatica pain
The best type of massage for sciatica problems will depend on how this problem manifests for you:
Myofascial Release - By identifying the areas of stiffness and pain around the sciatic nerve, we can treat many issues and problems which often contribute to sciatica, such as piriformis syndrome.
Deep Tissue Massage - This type of massage targets deeper layers of muscles by applying extreme pressure. This can help sciatica by relieving tension in areas that are not on the surface, but are contributing to sciatica, which many other techniques may not be able to reach.
Gluteus Maximus Petrissage - Using squeezing and kneading techniques to reduce tension, this massage can be great for promoting blood flow in the tissues around the sciatic nerve.
Hamstring Massage - By manually manipulating the hamstring muscles, we can help to release a trapped nerve which could be the cause of your pain.
This is not an exhaustive list of all the techniques to soothe sciatica pain, but some of the more common methods we use. To determine the best method for you, we would always ask a series of questions and perform a hands-on analysis of your pain and where it is located/stemming from.
How a pain relief massage can help Sciatica
A pain relief massage can be beneficial for those suffering with sciatica due to its muscle relaxing results. Tight or compressed muscles might be putting pressure on the sciatic nerve, leading to pain. By reducing this, we reduce the chance of compressing the nerve and, subsequently, reduce pain.
A pain relief massage can also improve circulation in the targeted area, which has a number of benefits. These include promoting healing, easing tenderness and reducing muscle tightness around the sciatic nerve.
Can Sports Therapy help Sciatica?
Sports therapy can help sciatica. Sports therapists use massages to reduce inflammation as well as driving the brain to release endorphins, which can act as effective pain relief. Manual therapy is also utilised to improve mobility and reduce pain, but it is important not to overwork the affected area as this could actually increase pain.
Sports therapists can teach you good practices such as posture, positioning and movement patterns which are beneficial for sciatica pain relief and reducing the risk of future problems.
Our sciatic treatment in Bolton and Leyland
At Injury Mechanics, we are specialists in the area of Sciatica treatment, and we are confident we will make your life easier if you are struggling with this issue.
If you are looking for help in the Bolton or Leyland area, get in touch.
Book your Appointment with Our Experts