Can Massage Help Sciatica? | Sciatic Pain Relief

That sharp, radiating pain that shoots from your lower back down through your hip and leg has a name — sciatica — and it can make sitting, standing, and sleeping miserable. If you’re searching for relief, you may be wondering whether massage can actually help. Often, it can.

What Is Sciatica?

Sciatica refers to pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve — the longest nerve in the body, running from the lower back through the hips and down each leg. When that nerve is irritated or compressed, it can cause pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness anywhere along the route. Tight muscles in the lower back and glutes are a common contributor.

How Massage May Help

Massage doesn’t cure the underlying cause of sciatica, but it can address one of its biggest aggravators: muscle tension. When the muscles around the lower back and hips are tight, they can add pressure and irritation to an already sensitive nerve. By releasing that tension, massage may help to:
– Loosen tight lower-back and gluteal muscles
– Reduce the muscular pressure contributing to nerve irritation
– Improve circulation to the area
– Ease the secondary tension that builds from guarding against pain

Which Techniques Are Used

Depending on your situation, a therapist may use deep tissue work to release the deeper muscles, or gentler techniques if the area is highly sensitive. Manual osteopathy can also be valuable, since it looks at how the hips, pelvis, and lower back move together.

When to See a Professional

Sciatica has many causes, some of which need medical attention. If you have severe pain, significant numbness, weakness, or any loss of bladder or bowel control, see a doctor promptly. For tension-related sciatic discomfort, a registered massage therapist can be a real source of relief.

Find Sciatica Relief in Winnipeg

If sciatic pain is wearing you down, our registered therapists at Pure Escape on Corydon Avenue can assess your tension and build a treatment around it.