Does Massage Therapy Help with Sciatica Pain?

From loop21.com

The worst way to start off the new year is with sciatica back pain! Unfortunately, it isn’t uncommon. But did you know there are treatments you can do at home, including massage therapy, that can help with the pain?

First, What is Sciatica Pain?

Sciatica pain is when pain occurs along the sciatic nerve that runs from the lower back down to the hips, buttocks and legs. This usually impacts one side of the body. Symptoms include intense pain that can be minor to severe, numbness, and tingling.

What Can You Do at Home?

Luckily, if your sciatica pain is minor, there are things you can do at home such as rest and apply ice.
Start with resting! Lie down for short periods, but try to avoid prolonged rest. As soon as you start to feel better and the pain subsides, you can get up and walk around for a short distance.

Remember, avoid prolonged sitting or driving since this can cause more irritation. If you do need to sit at a desk or drive for a few hours, always take time to get up and stretch. A little bit of movement is very beneficial to healing.
For temporary pain relief, over the counter pain medications are also an option along with acupuncture and physical therapy.

Massage Therapy

In addition to acupuncture and physical therapy, massage therapy is also a very effective way to relieve sciatica pain.

Just like with any therapy, healing progress does take time. So you may need a few weekly sessions before you see improvement. Massage therapy is a common and relaxing treatment for sciatica pain, just be sure to always alert your massage therapist about the area you are experiencing pain. This way, they will find the best technique and pressure for you.

The benefits of massage therapy include the soothing of tense muscles. Extra tension puts pressure on the nerve, so massage therapy reduces the pressure and irritation. Massage therapy also increases pain threshold, releases endorphins, boosts pressure, relieves pain, and improves overall well-being.

Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massage is a more aggressive form of massage that uses slow strokes and deep finger pressure. If you can handle it, this is the ideal form of massage therapy for sciatica pain. Just a few 30-minute sessions multiple times a week can get you back to yourself.

Swedish Massage
Swedish massage is the most common form of massage and uses flowing and kneading movements to help you relax and increase blood flow. This is a great massage to get often to help with the pain.

Hot Stone Massage
A hot stone massage uses heated stones placed on specific parts of the back. Using techniques similar to Swedish massage, this is another beneficial massage to help find pain relief.

Neuromuscular Massage 
For more severe sciatica pain, neuromuscular massage is an advanced massage technique that uses deep tissue and friction to release contracted muscles.

https://loop21.com/does-massage-therapy-help-with-sciatica-pain