There are several self assessments you can perform to help identify which specific muscle imbalances you have and these are covered in our Lose the Back Pain Video along with step-by-step instructions on what to do to eliminate your imbalances and pain.
Sciatic pain comes about either due to a traumatic event, muscle imbalances, or a combination of both.
The event scenario is most likely the catalyst for sudden onset of sciatic pain. So what happens… when there is undue stress on the Piriformis muscle that stress causes it to go into spasm and then you have pain due to the Piriformis muscle putting pressure on the sciatic nerve.
In most cases, people go to physical therapy or minimize their physical activity to break the pain – spasm cycle and in most cases your symptoms subside. However…the event will also set you up for a life time of sciatic pain if the Piriformis muscle does not recover 100% in both strength and flexibility.
When you have an injury to a muscle, both strength and flexibility are compromised, and if your recovery ends before strength and flexibility return, you will never be 100% and will likely struggle with the problem forever.
The other way sciatic pain creeps into your life is due to your lifestyle and habits, and that is what we like to call the process. The process can be described as a prolonged onset of symptoms based on your everyday activities...
However, from a technical stand point the process really describes the development of the muscle imbalance in your hip. The Piriformis muscle is responsible for external rotation (moving your leg so your feet point outward). So over time that muscle gets tight from the positions you put your self in and weakens from lack of use.
Let me give you some examples of what I mean:
1. If you sit on the edge of your chair with you legs separated and your feet pointing outward you are keeping your Piriformis muscle in a shortened position and that’s how it gets tight and with extended sitting in that position, it gets weak form lack of use. Hence the imbalance.
2. Another example is runners and bikers who actually work very hard tend to get sciatica because they fail to keep a strength vs. stretch balance in their workouts. Hence the imbalance creates a greater pull toward external rotation and the result is a tight Piriformis and an irritated sciatic nerve creating pain.
These are just two examples of how muscle imbalances can
affect the Piriformis muscle and cause Sciatic pain. You
may not be a runner or cyclist but I’ll bet you have
muscle imbalances that are causing your sciatic pain!
Recovery Tip: In severe cases, the sciatic pain can run from the top of the hip to the bottom of the foot. It is very important to recognize that changes and shifting of pain is often times a sign of improvement. Further more as a way of gauging recovery, take note of how far down the leg the pain goes. If the pain goes to the foot one day and then only makes it to the calf and then to the knee and then it can only make it to the hamstring that is a sign of improvement. You should feel good about those noticeable improvements and this should give you encouragement to keep working toward a full remission of pain.
Piriformis Syndrome Treatment (Sciatic Pain Relief)
So how do you get rid of your pain? Will learning one new stretch be enough? It very well may be. However depending on the severity of your condition you may need to change your activities of daily living to include new stretches, new exercises that include the use of the hip rotators like roller-blading, basketball, tennis, etc, and even better, specific corrective exercise specific to your situation... like those covered in our video. As always, learn as much as you can about your condition, so that you can ask the tough questions to your healthcare providers and get the best care possible.
One last point, sciaitic pain is not caused by a lack of prescription medications so don’t think that taking some anti-inflammatories or muscle relaxants will fix it... it won’t! Also, many people are able to eliminate sciatic pain within days just by performing a few exercises and stretches... but not general exercise... the exact corrective exercises and stretches they need to do.
Find out what’s causing your sciatic pain and learn
exactly which exercises and stretches you should be doing
by watching our Lose the Back Pain Video. Order your copy
now online at http://www.losethebackpain.com
Article by Jesse Cannone of Lose the Back Pain.
Jesse is a certified personal fitness trainer and post-rehab
specialist and he has helped hundreds of individuals to
eliminate their back pain. Visit his site now and be sure
to sign up for his free email course on eliminating back
pain.
>> Click here for Jesse Cannone's Lose The Back Pain System and eliminate your back pain!
About Lose the Back Pain System:
- The four "physical dysfunctions" that are responsible for over 90% of all back pain
- Simple "self assessments" you can perform in just minutes, anywhere to help you pinpoint which dysfunctions you have
- 4 Step-by-Step "Corrective Action Plans" that show you exactly what you need to do to balance your body and eliminate your back pain
- the facts about back pain and other conditions like sciatic nerve pain and arthritis
- how to strengthen your lower back and abs to prevent injuries
>> Click here to order Jesse Cannone's Lose The Back Pain System and eliminate your back pain!
