Physiotherapy & Treatment for Sciatica

Physiotherapy, also known as physical therapy, can be effective in treating sciatica. A physiotherapist can help a person overcome the pain, increase their mobility and get them functioning normally again.

Definition

• The sciatic nerve runs from your spinal cord, past your buttock and down the back of each leg, according to the Mayo Clinic. Sciatica is pain along the path of this nerve, often in the legs. It is often the sign of another condition, such as a herniated disk.

Treatment

• A physiotherapist will usually recommend that a person take anti-inflammatory medications for sciatica, which helps control the inflammation and pain. They will gradually introduce the patient to basic stretching and strength-building exercises which increase stability in the spine.

Other Types of Treatment

• Other treatments for sciatica in physiotherapy include heat packs for the first few days and back braces, which can relieve sciatica pain by improving posture.

Benefits

• Physiotherapists can help a person push their limit and overcome pain and mobility problems with sciatica. They often help elderly people live independently after an injury that causes sciatica.

Time Frame

• There is no set time frame for overcoming sciatic through a physiotherapist. However, a person's recovery from sciatica can be expedited through physiotherapy.