3 Ways Chiropractic Treatment Can Help With All Causes Of Sciatica

Is the sharp, shooting pain of sciatica familiar to you? It can be incredibly debilitating, affecting our daily activities and restricting our movement. The sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the body, can become irritated for various reasons, including herniated discs, degenerative disc disorder, osteoarthritis, pregnancy, or even an injury resulting from a car accident.

Whatever the cause, chiropractic treatment can significantly relieve the pain and discomfort associated with sciatica. So, in this article, we explore three ways that a chiropractor can help you during a sciatic flare-up. 

How Can a Chiropractor Help With Sciatica Pain?

Here are some of the many ways that a chiropractor can help you to manage the pain of sciatica:

1. Perform spinal adjustments to restore movement and mobility.

Irritation of the sciatic nerve can lead to muscular tightness and spasms across the lower back and hips. This can affect the alignment of the spine, further exacerbating pain and restricting movement. 

However, chiropractors can perform subtle spinal manipulations to realign the bones within the spine, known as the vertebrae. These adjustments can help alleviate any pressure and tension in this area. By restoring normal spinal alignment, chiropractors can help improve movement and mobility and reduce sciatic pain. When performed correctly, spinal adjustments should not cause any discomfort but can provide long-lasting relief from sciatica symptoms. 

Spinal adjustments may be particularly beneficial for individuals with car-accident-related sciatica, as the forceful impact of a car accident can compress vertebrae, leading to pinching and irritation of the sciatic nerve. 

Interestingly, research has shown that spinal manipulation carried out by a chiropractor may be just as effective as surgery for patients with sciatica who haven’t responded to other medical treatments.  

2. Use soft tissue therapies to reduce inflammation

Sciatica symptoms often result from inflammation in the muscles and tissue surrounding the sciatic nerve. This inflammation leads to compression of the nerve itself. 

Yet, chiropractors can use various soft tissue therapies to reduce areas of inflammation. For example, they may use hands-on techniques, such as deep tissue massage, to relax muscles and improve localized blood flow. Enhanced blood flow helps to deliver important components of the immune system to the localized tissue, facilitating healing. 

Spinal manipulations have also been shown to have a positive effect on inflammation. In one particular study, researchers found that chiropractic adjustments helped to reduce levels of the inflammatory mediators, interleukin-6 (Il-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with chronic lower back pain.

3. Recommend stretching exercises to improve muscle strength

As muscle imbalance can place unnecessary pressure on the sciatic nerve, strengthening exercises are a must for those struggling with sciatica. Chiropractors can recommend tailored stretching exercises designed to address your individual needs. Stretching tight muscles can help to relieve localized tension, reduce sciatica nerve irritation, and alleviate sciatica symptoms. 

If you are struggling with sciatica pain and would like to explore physical therapy or chiropractic care in Tampa, our expert team at Tampa Spine and Wellness is here to help you. Book your appointment and start your healing journey with us today!