Sciatica is a condition where the sciatic nerve gets compressed or damaged in some way. There are two main causes of this condition. Compression and issues with hernias can cause the nerve to become compressed; or neuropathy can cause the sheathing protective layer of the nerve to wear away. About 10% of people suffer from some type of sciatica. It’s an incredibly common condition. As such, the good news is that there are also some pretty common ways to treat it that won’t require expensive medications or surgeries. There are some exercises you can do to relieve the symptoms and pain associated with sciatica. Here are 10 of the most common exercises you can do to ease the symptoms.
1: The Piriformis Stretch
This stretch starts by sitting in an upright position with your core muscles tensed. You want to place your feet flat on the floor, even with your hip position. From here, you want to lift your right ankle up and rest it on your left thigh, above the knee. Then you will take your right hand and push the elevated knee away from you. This is going to open your body up and relieve the compression. Make sure that you hold this position for about 30 seconds to a minute, switching sides and repeating a few times.