• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
355 U.S. 22 E Ste D Springfield, NJ 07081 Conveniently Located!

Back & Body Pain Relief

Springfield NJ Chiropractor & Physical Therapy

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Phone
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • ABOUT
    • About Us
    • DOCTORS
      • Dr David Perna DC, CCSP, CCEP
      • Dr Shan Sivendra MD
      • Dr Robert Minlionica, DC, MPA, ATC
      • Neel Patel, DPT
      • Oscar Mujica PT DPT
    • Insurance
    • Reviews
    • Media
    • FAQs
  • TREATMENTS
    • Chiropractic Treatments
      • Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA)
    • Physical Therapy
      • Posture Correction
      • Custom Stretching Programs
      • Sports Focused Rehab
      • Custom Rehab Programs
    • Electric Stimulation
      • Laser Therapy
      • Shockwave Therapy
      • Ultrasound Therapy
      • Nerve Conduction Velocity Testing
    • Active Release Technique New Jersey (ART)
    • Acupuncture
    • Class IV Laser Therapy
    • Graston Technique Springfield
    • Trigger Point Injections
    • Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA)
    • Medical Massage
    • Spinal Decompression Therapy
      • Our Spinal Decompression Therapy
    • Hydration IV
  • PATIENT FORMS
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • NEWS
    • BLOG
  • CONTACT
You are here: Home / Uncategorized / How to Exercise with Sciatica

How to Exercise with Sciatica

March 5, 2018 By Dr David Perna DC

water exercise

When you’re having a sciatica attack, exercise is the furthest thing from your mind.  But that’s a big mistake.

It hurts.  I know.  I treat people with sciatica regularly.  But exercise is one of the most useful tools in your toolbox if you’re seeking relief.  While it may sound counter-intuitive, exercising to decrease pain is an effective way to address this condition.

Let’s discuss how to exercise with sciatica.  You may not relish the thought, but with these tips, you’ll find it’s the best way to improve your quality of life, by relieving sciatica pain.

Heat can help

The thought of exercise will become less daunting if you follow this tip.  Applying heat for 15 to 20 minutes as a prelude to exercise serves to relieve pain, making you feel better about the proposition and much more willing to do it.

Your skin is equipped with sensory nerve receptors.  When heat is applied to your lower back (where the sciatic nerve originates) the effect is of shutting down the messages these receptors are sending to your brain.  When your brain doesn’t know about the pain, it’s shut down temporarily.

Heat will also have the effect of reducing stiffness and allowing more flexibility.  Being able to stretch effectively and without pain is one way to beat sciatica, because stretching helps to reduce pressure on the sciatic nerve.  When it’s compressed, it’s irritated and that means inflammation and pain.

While applying heat, ensure that you protect your skin by using a towel to create a barrier between the heat source and your body.  The heat will still get through.  It just won’t burn.

Low-impact exercise

I know you’re not very interested in jogging right now.  Good, because that’s one of the worst ways to treat sciatica.  High-impact exercise can irritate the sciatic nerve, causing pain to run up and down the lower body.

Instead, try using an elliptical trainer or stationary bicycle.  These low impact options still provide the workout you need, without pushing the envelope and exacerbating the problem.

Another excellent alternative is exercising in water.  Walking, performing controlled exercises to stretch and strengthen muscles and even paddling or swimming contribute to your physical wellbeing, while encouraging greater flexibility.

Exercises like these create conditions for your body to feed itself properly, allowing the flow of oxygen and essential nutrients to the affected area.

To get started, don’t push yourself too hard.  Commit to brief daily periods of exercise, building up as you become stronger.  You’ll find that your symptoms will gradually improve and all because you weren’t afraid to try.

PRO-TIP:  Following your workouts, apply a cold pack to your lower back, taking the same precautions you did with the hot pack and applying it for the same amount of time.

Back & Body Medical

The multi-disciplinarian pain relief model Back & Body’s won awards for is now available in New Jersey.  If you’re suffering from sciatic pain, we invite you to contact us for consultation.

Discover the integrated model everybody’s talking about.  Discover pain relief with Back & Body.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Primary Sidebar

Contact Us

Hours

Mon 10am – 7pm
Tue 10am – 7pm
Wed 10am – 7pm
Thu 10am – 7pm
Fri 10am – 7pm

Widget Before Footer Widgets

OUR BLOG

STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW
ABOUT YOUR HEALTH

Fall leaves don't get back pain

Back Pain Relieving Fall Tips Fall is a beautiful time of year. As the year moves into its vintage months, we are often presented with beautiful sunny and comfortable days, stunning colors of foliage changing and of course… lots and lots of leaves on the ground. Here in Springfield it’s no different. Just a drive […]

November, 11, 2022

7 Great Back Pain Relieving Fall Tips

Back Pain Relieving Fall Tips Fall is a beautiful time of year. As the year moves into its vintage months, we are often presented with beautiful sunny and comfortable days, stunning colors of foliage changing and of course… lots and lots of leaves on the ground. Here in Springfield it’s no different. Just a drive […]

READ MORE
Easy access for most commonly used items at desk

Hi, my name is Rich. I handle much of the marketing for Back and Body Pain Relief. I’ve been working for the company for around 5 years and in that time have worked solely from my home office. My home office beginnings was very simple, a small laptop on a small desk with a $40 […]

August, 8, 2022

Home Office Tips to Reduce Pain

Hi, my name is Rich. I handle much of the marketing for Back and Body Pain Relief. I’ve been working for the company for around 5 years and in that time have worked solely from my home office. My home office beginnings was very simple, a small laptop on a small desk with a $40 […]

READ MORE
map
map
map

Footer

logo light

355 Route 22 E, Ste D
Springfield Township, NJ 07081

Ph: (908) 325-3000

Mon - Fri 10am - 7pm

Good Faith Estimate
  • footer logo
  • footer logo
  • footer logo
  • footer logo
  • footer logo
  • footer logo
  • footer logo
footer logo

© Copyright Back & Body Pain Relief NJ | All Rights Reserved - Medical Website Design in NJ | Privacy Policy

CB logo
  • Home
  • ABOUT
    • About Us
    • DOCTORS
      • Dr David Perna DC, CCSP, CCEP
      • Dr Shan Sivendra MD
      • Dr Robert Minlionica, DC, MPA, ATC
      • Neel Patel, DPT
      • Oscar Mujica PT DPT
    • Insurance
    • Reviews
    • Media
    • FAQs
  • TREATMENTS
    • Chiropractic Treatments
      • Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA)
    • Physical Therapy
      • Posture Correction
      • Custom Stretching Programs
      • Sports Focused Rehab
      • Custom Rehab Programs
    • Electric Stimulation
      • Laser Therapy
      • Shockwave Therapy
      • Ultrasound Therapy
      • Nerve Conduction Velocity Testing
    • Active Release Technique New Jersey (ART)
    • Acupuncture
    • Class IV Laser Therapy
    • Graston Technique Springfield
    • Trigger Point Injections
    • Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA)
    • Medical Massage
    • Spinal Decompression Therapy
      • Our Spinal Decompression Therapy
    • Hydration IV
  • PATIENT FORMS
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • NEWS
    • BLOG
  • CONTACT