The sciatic nerve is well known for being one of the biggest pains in your backside. This is because it is an extremely large nerve relative to all the nerves in the human body. When people feel pain connected to this nerve it is typically only on one side of the body. If you have this on both sides we might have to hand deliver you the medal of courage. Consider one of the best ways to get relief quickly for this type of nerve pain is with an experienced massage therapist.
Pain, numbness, tingling and/or a burning sensation down the back of the leg, sometimes all the way to the foot, are what you are most likely going to feel when experiencing sciatic pain. In some cases, you might even feel it down the front of the legs known as the quadriceps muscles. Frequent and long hours of sitting, pressure on the sciatic nerve due to tense muscles, low back and gluteal weakness, weak sacral ligaments, poor posture, pregnancy, and obesity are common causes of sciatic pain. Although sciatica can also be a symptom of another underlying condition such as a herniated (also known as “slipped”) disc.
Best Massage Techniques for Sciatic Pain
- Swedish combined with lymphatic massage
- Specific trigger point with a thoughtful deep tissue
- Myofascial Release
- Jostling and moving the leg while applying pressure to confuse and relax the nerve
Massage can help greatly with sciatic pain by loosening tense, tight muscles and relieving the pressure they create on top of the sciatic nerve. Massage also helps by releasing endorphins in the body. Endorphins are our body’s natural pain relievers and not only do they help to relieve pain but also stress, making it easier for our body to relax and aid the massage therapist in releasing tight muscles. Jostling the leg and moving it while doing massage is a very effective way to relax the nerve that has been “switched on” or aggravated. I have seen people recover almost immediately from this type of massage approach.
Another great way to relieve sciatica is through at home care, like stretching, foam rolling and using a tennis ball on a trigger point that your massage therapist should be able to point out to you post-treatment.
Our therapists at East Bridge Massage specialize in these types of massage that help benefit sciatica and lower back pain.
About the author:
Clare Katner has been a licensed massage therapist and teacher for over 20 years. As the founder of East Bridge Massage, she leads a team of 10 massage therapists in Portland Oregon, offering specialized treatments seven days a week. Whether it’s deep tissue or stress reduction her inspiration is to create a unique and customized experience to reach the many needs of all those that seek advanced massage therapy.