In the article, we will consider what exercises are used for inflammation of the sciatic nerve.
Under the complex term "sciatica" lies an inflammatory process that affects the sciatic nerve. With inflammation of this nerve, severe pain develops, radiating to the lower back. Sciatica occurs in cases where a person is in an uncomfortable position for a long time, during pregnancy, with trauma to the pelvis. In the absence of pinching therapy, it transforms into inflammation. Getting rid of the disease allows the use of certain medications and exercises for inflammation of the sciatic nerve.
Signs of sciatica
The first symptom that occurs with sciatica is severe soreness, the person loses the ability to lean forward. Over time, the pain goes down, begins to bother in the buttocks, gives to the foot. Sciatica pain has a shooting, sharp character.
Sciatica symptoms also include:
- Sore buttocks, aggravated by prolonged sitting.
- Burning sensation, tingling in the lumbar region.
- Tension in the muscles, accompanied by numbness, weakness.
- Sharp pain that occurs with intense movement, walking.
In the absence of medical attention, the pinched sciatic nerve begins to become inflamed, the pain increases. Sciatica is treated by neurologists after a comprehensive study (palpation, MRI, X-ray examination). When the disease shows the use of painkillers, warming gels and ointments. Therapeutic gymnastic exercises, water procedures, physiotherapy, massage are also effective in pinching.
Recommendations
When treating sciatica, it is important to follow the following recommendations:
- It is forbidden to wear heels, comfortable shoes should be preferred.
- Ensure the intake of B vitamins.
- You need to pay attention to your weight. If there is an excess, you should lose weight - under its influence, diseases of the spine occur.
- Sleep on your side with your knees bent towards your stomach.
- You should keep your back straight, do not slouch. With an uneven position, the spinal muscles weaken, and the compression of the nerves increases.
- In a standing position, you need to put your feet straight.
- You can't sit in a sitting position for more than two hours without warming up.
Sciatica Therapy
The patient is recommended bed rest, and it is necessary to lie on a hard surface. The best position is to lie on your stomach with a small pillow placed under your chest. The use of warming compresses, heating pads is prohibited, since heat causes an increase in blood flow in the affected area, and therefore an increase in swelling of the soft tissues begins, and an increase in compression of the nerve. As a result, the pain becomes more pronounced.
Medicines
As prescribed by a neurologist, the following drugs can be used:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They can alleviate pain, reduce the severity of inflammation. In order to avoid the development of negative effects, it is important to follow the recommended dosage.
- Analgesics of central action. They are used in a short course to reduce the intensity of pain.
- Corticosteroids. Able to have a powerful anti-edematous, anti-inflammatory effect. In case of severe pinching and the absence of the effect of the use of other means, epidural administration of corticosteroids is allowed, which allows you to quickly alleviate the patient's condition.
- Antidepressants. They allow to normalize sleep, calm the patient, reduce the severity of anxiety, fear.
- Vitamins. They have a beneficial effect on the functionality of the NS, promote the regeneration of nerve fibers,damaged.
In addition to these medicines, anti-inflammatory ointments are widely used: Nurofen, Diclofenac, Voltaren.
Other treatments
Physiotherapeutic procedures are recommended in the remission stage: paraffin baths, acupuncture, laser therapy, magnetotherapy, UHF therapy, phonophoresis, electrophoresis.
If there is no effect from conservative treatment, the doctor will raise the issue of surgical therapy for pinching.
Exercise
An important role in the treatment of sciatica is played by physical exercises for inflammation of the sciatic nerve. The cause of pinching of the sciatic nerve may lie in the displacement of the vertebrae, deformation of the vertebral discs. Therefore, regular training of the spinal muscles will help to avoid sciatica.
With inflammation of the sciatic nerve, it is not always desirable to perform exercises, but physiotherapy exercises in this case are very effective. Contraindications can be pregnancy, displacement of the vertebral discs, acute pain. Exercises should be performed only after the pain has subsided. You need to train smoothly, without making sudden movements.
At the beginning of classes, it is recommended to perform 5 repetitions of the exercise, over time, the number of repetitions can be increased to 10. It is necessary to train up to three times a day - first for 10 minutes, then you can increase the time to half an hour. It is useless to engage in longer, it is better to increase the amplitude of exercises, their intensity.
When choosing a set of exercises for inflammation of the sciatic nerve, you should consult your doctor. It can be special physiotherapy exercises, a set of exercises developed by Dr. Bubnovsky, yoga asanas, exercises according to the Dikul method.
The main rule is the selection of exercises in such a way as not to harm or cause complications of sciatica. At the same time, exercises should not provoke severe pain in the patient.
Bubnovsky Gymnastics
The most common exercises for inflammation of the sciatic nerve from Bubnovsky are:
- You need to lie on your back. One leg should be bent at the knee and pulled towards the body. When inhaling, the leg is brought closer to the chest, held for 10 seconds, the breath is held for 5 seconds and the leg is returned to its original position. Then the exercise is repeated on the other leg, on both legs. It is important to keep your lower back relaxed while doing this exercise, as its purpose is to stretch the lumbar region.
- In the supine position, put the hands under the buttocks, raise both legs up, make a movement with them that imitates the torsion of a bicycle pedal. The exercise should be done without effort, acceleration, 15 circles each.
- In the position on the back, one should rest the palms of the outstretched arms on the floor, raise the legs vertically upwards, without spreading them. Then it is necessary to alternately deflect the legs in different directions to an angle of 45˚. Physical exercises for inflammation of the sciatic nerve havegreat value.
- While lying on your side, you need to bend your legs, stretch your socks, with an effort to pull your knees to your chest. In this case, you should bend your back and tilt your head. The exercise is done for 10 repetitions.
- Lying on your stomach, stretch your arms straight above your head. The chest is then raised off the floor. In this case, it is necessary to keep the legs motionless and bend the arms. It should be repeated 5-10 times. What other exercises are effective for inflammation of the sciatic nerve?
- Sitting on the buttocks, without bending the legs, "walk" back and forth.
- Slowly move straight arms behind your back at chest level while sitting.
- Sitting on a chair, cross your legs, keeping your back straight. The palms must be placed on the back of the head and, being in this position, turn the body in different directions. Exercises for inflammation of the sciatic nerve at home are very convenient to perform, this does not require special devices.
- In the position on all fours, you need to bend your back down on the exhale, on the inhale - up.
- In a standing position, you should slightly spread your legs, place your hands on your hips. On inspiration, push the pelvis forward, on exhalation - take it back.
- Place your feet shoulder-width apart, slowly lean to the sides alternately, while bringing the opposite arm above your head. It is recommended to repeat the exercise 5 times.
Exercises for inflammation of the sciatic nerve according to Dikul
- Sitting on the rugstretch your legs in front of you. Keep your back straight. Raise your hands up and bring them as far as possible behind your back, while the shoulder blades should touch.
- Sit on a chair, put your hands in the "lock" behind your head. Make smooth turns of the torso to the sides.
- Spread your legs shoulder-width apart, raise your right hand up, stretch your left hand along the body. Exhale - a smooth tilt to the left, keep your back straight, the right hand should remain in a vertical position. Starting position - inhale.
It is important to remember that gymnastics should be done very slowly, without pain. After recovery, you can continue to perform physical complexes for prevention.
We looked at exercises for inflammation of the sciatic nerve. Symptoms and treatment of pathology are also described.
