Sciatica is excruciatingly painful. As well as the spine. And then there are the legs. A variety of issues/injuries can cause it, and avoiding them is your best option for keeping the Sciatica pain at bay. What is a smart strategy to avoid sciatica? Of course, stretching!
But not just any stretching, but the correct sort. We wholeheartedly endorse these 14 sciatica exercises.
Breaking down 14 of the greatest stretches for sciatica pain prevention
These 14 sciatic nerve exercises are our top picks for alleviating Sciatica pain and stiffness.
Scissor hamstring stretch
This gentle introduction to sciatica stretching relaxes your hamstrings. They will tug on your pelvis and stress your lower back if they are excessively tight. Executing scissor hamstring stretches on a daily basis might help to relieve stress.
How to Go About It:
- Begin by standing with your right foot about three feet ahead of your left.
- Keep your hips and shoulders square, and place your hands on your hips if necessary.
- Align your body over your front foot by bending forward at the waist and keeping your back straight.
- Hold this stance for 10 seconds with your weight largely supported by your front leg.
- Rep at the beginning, but this time place your left foot in front of your right.
- Aim for three repetitions per leg.
Back flexion stretch
This stretch may be done standing or sitting and has several variants. When done correctly, your back flexion helps to relieve discomfort (when the spine bends forwards).
How to Go About It:
- Begin by standing upright with your feet approximately hip-width apart.
- Bend forward at the waist and lower your head as much as you can while maintaining your legs straight.
- When you feel the stretch in your lower back, ease into it by resting your hands on your ankles or the floor for support.
- Hold for 10 seconds before returning to the starting position.
- Aim for three repetitions.
Single knee-to-chest stretch
The single-leg knee-to-chest stretch is an isolation exercise, which means it only exercises one side of your body. This is beneficial for correcting any muscular imbalances and distributing your weight appropriately.
How to Go About It:
- Lie on your back and place your right hand beneath your right knee.
- Pull your right leg up to your chest gently until you feel a comfortable stretch in your hip.
- Hold for a total of 10 seconds.
- Return to the beginning position and do the same with your left leg.
- Aim for three repetitions.
Knee to opposite shoulder stretch
This deeper stretch, a more difficult form of the single-knee stretch, aids with spinal flexion and provides plenty of space for the nerve and relive sciatica pain.
How to perform it:
- Lie down on the floor with your legs completely stretched.
- Raise your right knee and grasp the top with both hands.
- Bring your right knee up towards your left shoulder without raising your hips off the floor.
- Bring your head up to complete the action once you feel a comfortable stretch.
- Return to the starting location after 30 seconds.
- Rep with your left knee, aiming for three repetitions per leg.
Seated sciatic nerve glide
This is an excellent sitting exercise for improving ankle mobility to relive sciatica pain. It also desensitises your sciatic nerve, allowing you to move your legs more freely. It works one leg at a time, assisting you in correcting muscular imbalances.
How to Go About It:
- Begin by sitting up straight on a chair or on the floor.
- Maintain one knee bent and one foot flat against the floor, while straightening the other knee and placing the other foot in front of you.
- Bend your foot back so that your toes point at you. If necessary, use a resistance band or cloth to assist bring your toes back.
- Bend your foot backwards so that the toes point away from you.
- 20 times, flex your foot back and forth. If you want to make it more difficult, bend your head forward so your chin rests on your chest.
- Repeat with the opposite leg, aiming for one set of 20 repetitions.
Cobra pose
The cobra posture, in addition to being a terrific workout with a badass name, can help reduce discomfort caused by a herniated disc. It also includes a modified version to make things simpler.
How to Go About It:
- Lie on your stomach and extend your legs behind you.
- Bend your elbows so that your palms face the floor near your chest.
- Straighten your elbows and raise your chest off the floor. If this causes discomfort, alter it by merely slightly straightening your elbows and raising your chest 45 degrees.
- Hold for 10 seconds before gently returning to the starting position.
- Aim for 10 repetitions.
Seated hip stretch
Another excellent alternative for developing hip and lower back mobility is the sitting-down piriformis stretch (which we’ll discuss later). You’ll obviously need a chair or bench for this one.
How to Go About It:
- Sit with your feet level on the floor and your knees at 90 degrees.
- Raise your right leg and rest your ankle against your left knee.
- Concentrate on your breathing while bending forward over your ankle and knee.
- Return to the starting location after 30 seconds.
- Rep with your left leg, aiming for three repetitions for each leg.
Standing hamstring stretch
Returning to the hamstrings for a moment, they join to the base of your pelvis and, if not limbered up, can create lower back pain or tightness. This stretch helps them limber up!
How to Go About It:
- Keep your feet together and stand up straight.
- Extend your right leg out in front of you approximately five inches, placing the heel on the floor or a chair (anything just below waist height).
- Lean forward from your waist, keeping your back straight, until the rear of your leg stretches.
- Return to the starting location after 30 seconds.
Sitting spine twist
Here’s another mild flex to help relieve joint pain.
How to Go About It:
- Sit on the floor with your back straight and your legs out in front of you.
- Cross your right foot over the outside of your left knee and place it on the floor.
- Deepen the stretch by extending your left elbow on the outside of your right knee as you twist your body to the right.
- Hold for 20-30 seconds before returning to the starting position.
- Rep with the second leg, aiming for three repetitions each leg.
Reclining pigeon pose
The hips might get tense and produce sciatica pain. This, the first of three pigeon position variations, relieves some of the stress.
How to Go About It:
- Lie down on your back with your legs parallel to the floor.
- Lift and bend both legs, then cross your right knee over your left thigh at 90 degrees.
- Grip your left leg with both hands and pull into your body until you feel the stretch limit.
- Return to the starting location after 30 seconds.
- Rep with the other leg, aiming for three reps.
Sitting pigeon pose
Keeping with the pigeon theme, all of these sciatica exercises increase hip flexion and overall mobility.
How to Go About It:
- Begin by sitting on the floor and extending both legs straight out in front of you.
- Bend your right knee and cross your left ankle over your right knee.
- Lean forward till your upper body reaches your thigh.
- Return to the starting location after 30 seconds.
- Rep with the other leg, aiming for three reps.
Forward pigeon pose
The forward, or conventional pigeon stance, is the most challenging of the variants, but it’s a great technique to stretch out your hips using your own body weight.
How to Go About It:
- Lie on your hands and knees.
- Place your right knee in front of your body, so that your right foot is aligned with your left knee against the floor.
- When your left leg reaches the floor, your body will naturally fall down onto your right leg.
- Using your arms to lower your chest until you feel a stretch in your right butt cheek (or glute, if we’re being scientific), support the majority of your weight with your legs.
- Hold for 30 seconds before returning.
Groin and adductor stretch
Tension in the groyne or adductor muscles can quickly lead to sciatic nerve discomfort. Thankfully, completing this stretch should make it easy to maintain things flexibly.
How to Go About It:
Begin on all fours, with your knees as wide apart as possible.
- Rock your body back into your hips while keeping your hands flat on the floor and your elbows straight.
- Push yourself back even deeper with your hands until you feel it in your groyne.
- Maintain this posture for 15 seconds.
- Return to the starting position and repeat for three reps.
Standing piriformis stretch
Let’s wrap things up with a more difficult sciatica exercise. The piriformis muscle is located around the top of your hip joint in your buttock. This stretch aids in the release of stress. It’s fantastic if you can balance and stand on your own. However, if you want assistance, you might begin by standing a metre or two away from a wall.
How to Go About It:
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Cross your left leg across your right leg.
- Bend your right leg slightly so that your hips are at a 45-degree angle.
- Once your legs are in the classic number 4 configuration, hold for 15 seconds.
- Return to the starting position and repeat with the other leg.
- Strive for three repetitions on each leg.
What exactly is the sciatic nerve, and why does it ache?
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body, going from your spine to your buttocks and down each leg to your heels. When the nerve is irritated or inflamed, Sciatica pain can occur anywhere along its path. Sciatica is the medical term for this type of discomfort.
The nerve can be harmed for a variety of causes, including herniated discs, infection, and just not extending appropriately. As if the Sciatica pain wasn’t awful enough, restricted nerve mobility might limit the range of motion in your legs.
According to studies like this one, stretching your lower body helps relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve and alleviate discomfort.
What are some non-traditional therapies for sciatica?
Stretches are excellent for avoiding or alleviating sciatic pain, but you also have additional options:
- Apply ice to the affected area three times per day for the first few days after experiencing stiffness or soreness.
- After the first several days, try applying heat to the hurting spot instead.
- Ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory medications can help relieve sciatic discomfort.
If sciatica persists for more than a few weeks, consult a medical expert.
Finally, I’m feeling fine and dandy!
Sciatica can occur at any point in our life. Perform these stretches on a regular basis, even if you’re not in Sciatica pain, to keep yourself limber and reduce your chance of injury. After all, when it comes to your health, a penny saved is a penny earned.