Sciatica

Sciatica is the term that is used to refer to pain along the sciatic nerve, which extends from the lower back, through your hips and buttocks and down each leg.  It typically affects only one side of the body and can range in severity from mild to severe.

Sciatica is often accompanied by other symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and/or weakness. It can interfere with daily activities such as standing, walking, sitting and can make them very difficult. Massage therapy and alternative holistic treatments can provide temporary relief from pain.

Many people are trying to avoid pharmaceutical drugs and try massage as the natural alternative. Massage therapies such as deep tissue and myoskeletal alignment techniques have been proven to be just as effective as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for relieving low back pain, which can be one of the many symptoms of sciatica.

The main benefit of massage when it comes to sciatica is to sooth tense muscles. When lower back muscles are hypertonic and tense they can impinge the nerve that lies underneath. Massaging or stretching these muscles may help to reduce tension on the nerve, in this case the sciatic.

Massage also produces endorphins that have an affect on pain threshold and lowers the threshold so that a person may find relief. Incorporating energy work such as reiki has also been known to release feel good chemicals and release tight muscles by clearing the mind so that the body follows.