When Sciatica Strikes, Fight Back With Chiropractic
By Sandy Schroeder
Sciatica is mystery pain that 40 percent of us will get in our lifetime, according to Harvard Health. If you are currently fighting it, or simply want to avoid it, chiropractic can help.
Here are some things to know about sciatica.
- Sciatica pain starts with the sciatic nerves and can quickly go away -- or not
- Attacks can go on for weeks or months
- Exercise can help you avoid sciatica
- Exercise can help you relieve sciatica
How Chiropractic Can Help
The Joint Chiropractic clinic near you provides a wellness center with doctors of chiropractic who are well equipped to deal with sciatica. They help people find natural answers to pain without prescription medications or surgery.
When you come in, your chiropractor will assess your pain and explain how improved spinal health can improve overall health. The spine keeps us mobile and the central nervous system inside supplies our brain-to-body communication to make life happen.
Far-reaching pain relief and a fresh sense of well-being may be yours for the taking with a gentle targeted spinal adjustment. Follow-up weekly 15-minute spinal adjustments can help you keep your balance and exercise the best options. Your chiropractor can help you develop a fitness program and track your progress to avoid any glitches.
How Exercise Can Help
Stay flexible - Use yoga, tai chi or Pilates to become increasingly limber as you improve posture and balance. A fluid body is a good defense against sciatica.
Up your heart rate - Include aerobics with swimming, biking, dancing, jogging or walking to get your heart rate up and your sciatica pain down.
Power up - Use free weights at home or hit the weight machines at the gym to exercise your muscles and increase your strength.
What Else You Can Do
Harvard Health suggests these defenses.
If you have to sit, interject movement - Take a real look at how much you sit driving, at your desk, traveling, and at home. Keep popping up and down, try an adjustable computer stand, or mix up your schedule. Move every chance that you get.
Trim down and stay slim - Your risk for sciatica goes way up when you pack on the pounds. That extra weight puts pressure on your spine and can create herniated discs. Each pound that you shed will help your spine become healthier and reduce inflammation in the body.
Make posture your friend - Become conscious of your body's posture standing or sitting and avoid slouching. Make sure your back is supported when you sit and keep your monitor at eye level. Have someone take pictures of you sitting to see where your slouch stands.
Stop in at The Joint Chiropractic clinic near you to get started. Clinics are open weekends and evenings. Walk-ins are welcome, and affordable personal healthcare plans eliminate the hassle of insurance.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Atlanta, Ga.