Sciatica symptoms explain conditions around the sciatic nerve
A lot of people have their lives badly affected by sciatica. Like most other conditions, you can deal with sciatica effectively with a well planned and structured exercises program. But before we go into details of specific sciatica exercises, it is first important to explain what sciatica is, as it is often misunderstood. Sciatica is a set of symptoms rather than a diagnosis in itself (meaning it does not explain the cause of the pain). Sciatica is a general term used to explain a set of symptoms around the sciatic nerve. Technically, it refers to pain caused by compression or irritation of one or more nerves exiting the lower spine that make up the sciatic nerve, and there are a number of different conditions that can cause this.
For most instances of sciatica pain, a specific, controlled, progressive exercise program that is tailored around the underlying cause of the sciatic pain will be part of the recommended treatment. The specific sciatica exercises serve two main purposes: they reduce the sciatic pain in the near term and also provide conditioning to help prevent future recurrences of the pain. It is very important that along with proper diagnosis you either enlist a certified physiotherapist or rehab specialist to guide you through the exercises as well as arming yourself with as much information as possible.
Contrary to conventional wisdom, exercise is usually better for relieving sciatic pain than bed rest. You may rest for a day or two after your sciatic pain flares up, but after that time period, inactivity will usually make the pain worse. Without exercise and movement, the back muscles and spinal structures become de-conditioned and less able to support the back. The de-conditioning and weakening can lead to back injury and strain. Movement helps exchange nutrients and fluids within the discs to keep them healthy and prevent pressure on the sciatic nerve.
