If you or someone you know is suffering from sciatica, physical therapy can help treat the pain. Physical therapy can be used to treat symptoms of any kind, no matter how severe. In this article, we will discuss the different ways physical therapy can help treat sciatica.
At P3 Physical Therapy, we offer services including back pain treatment in El Paso, as well as dry needling and orthopedic care. If you’ve been diagnosed with sciatica, our personalized treatment plans can help you. To schedule an appointment, call us at (915)-444-5200 today!
Symptoms and Treatment
Sciatica is caused when your sciatic nerve is injured or irritated. This nerve is the longest nerve in your body, so if it becomes compromised, the pain can be experienced throughout areas other than your back. Symptoms of sciatica include paresthesia (tingling), burning/electric pain, uncontrollable urinary/fecal accidents, numbness in affected areas, and muscle weakness.
Sciatica is a very common condition, so most physical therapists treat it. There are both active and passive solutions for back pain treatment; active involves physical exercise, whereas passive involves relaxation methods. See below for the different kinds of treatments.
- Improving Back Muscles (Active)- Stronger back and core muscles can support your spine better, thus improving the pain from sciatica. In addition to treating sciatica, improving your back muscles can help prevent future cases.
- Hot/Cold Therapy (Passive)- Heat draws blood to the irritated area, which helps with healing. However, a cold compress reduces the tenderness of the affected area.
- Stretching the Lower Back (Active)- Lower body areas like your hips, hamstrings, and buttocks can be affected by sciatica. To help manage the pain in these areas, your physical therapist will prescribe stretching exercises.
- Massage Therapy (Passive)- A massage can help loosen the swollen tissues in your lower back. Typically, a physical therapist will focus on the piriformis muscles to further reduce tension and swelling.
- Cardiac Fitness (Active)- Exercise that targets your cardiac health is another great form of back pain treatment because it gets your blood flowing. Blood is good for the healing process and delivering nutrients to areas of the body that need it.
- Hydrotherapy (Passive)- As mentioned previously, increased blood flow can promote healing. When engaging in water therapy, the warm water promotes blood flow while massaging jets relax the muscles.
- TENS (Passive)- Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation is when a mild electric current is passed through the back to relieve spasms and pain. The current is delivered through adhesive pads placed on your back and legs.
- Ultrasound Therapy (Passive)- Unlike TENS, which uses electric currents, ultrasound therapy uses sound waves to relax the muscles and provide pain relief.
Back Pain Treatment in El Paso
At P3 Physical Therapy, our back pain treatment in El Paso, TX, includes dry needling, manual therapy, massage, joint mobilization, corrective exercises, and pain education. We provide personalized treatments so you can feel like your pain and concerns are being heard. To schedule an appointment, call our office today (915)-444-5200!
