Are you suffering from sciatic pain? Did you know that in many cases sciatic pain can be reduced with just a simple stretch?
In the area of your hip there is a muscle called the Piriformis muscle. This muscle is special in its design and is actually one of the few muscles in the entire body that changes its action; Sometimes it is a hip external rotator and other times it is a hip internal rotator. Because of this design the muscle can get used a lot and in some cases become very tight.
Now you may ask “why would A muscle give me sciatic pain?”. Well, because of the location of this muscle,the sciatic nerve in many cases travels directly through or underneath it.
So when this muscle gets tight it can push down on the sciatic nerve much like parking your car on a hose in the driveway. Much like the hose will struggle to get water out, your nerve will struggle to get oxygen. Everything lower than where the nerve is compressed can then begin to experience sciatic pain.
There are multiple ways to stretch this muscle and relieve sciatic pain. One such stretch is called the seated piriformis stretch.
In order to perform the stretch, you must be seated with one leg crossed over the other while having your ankle rest on your opposite knee. Next, grasp your knee with both hands and pull upwards and across your body towards the opposite shoulder. Hold this stretch for 60 seconds and perform six times throughout the day.
In order to stretch the muscle the nerve will become more compressed and may increase pain during the stretch. But once the stretch is released it will release the nerve much like unkinking the hose and you should begin to feel relief.
Not all cases of sciatic pain can be relieved in this manner and there may be multiple locations the nerve can be impinged. In order to have your pain properly accessed you should consult a physical therapist and have an evaluation performed.
