Sciatica is low back pain that normally radiates into the buttocks, back of the hip, and down the back of the leg to the foot.

Most times sciatica affects only one side of the body, but it can affect both legs, depending on the cause.

The good news is that doing simple sciatica exercises can help relieve your pain.

First, some sciatica facts:

• Each person has 2 sciatic nerves.
• The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body.
• The sciatic nerve starts in the lower back and runs down the back of each leg.
• Sciatic pain is often associated with tingling, numbness, or weakness of the leg.
• It may be sudden in onset and can persist for days or weeks.
• Sciatica can be caused by a number of conditions that lead to compression or irritation of nerves as they exit the spinal canal (space through which the spinal cord travels) in the region of the lower back where they come together to form the sciatic nerves at the end of the spinal column.

Approximately 80% to 90% of people with sciatica recover over time without any surgical intervention.

• Research has shown that around 85% of those who have sciatica also have a corresponding disk disorder.

Main causes of sciatica:

• Age-related changes in the spinal disks which compress on the nerves (degenerative disk disease).
• A bulging disc or herniated disc that pinches on the sciatic nerve.
• Piriformis syndrome which is pain disorder that affects a muscle in the buttock.
• Spinal Stenosis (narrowing of the canal through which the nerve lies) which can compress on the nerves.
• Extra bone growth (bone spur) near the sciatic nerve.
• An injury or break (fracture) of the pelvis.

Sciatica symptoms include:

• Any of these problems in the lower back, leg, hip, or buttock:
• Mild tingling or dull aches.
• Burning sensations.
• Sharp pains.
• Numbness in the back of the calf or the sole of the foot.
• Leg weakness.
• Severe back pain that makes movement difficult.

These symptoms may get worse when you cough, sneeze, or laugh, or when you sit or stand for long periods of time. Being overweight may also make symptoms worse. In some cases, symptoms may recur over time.

5 Exercises For Sciatica Pain:

I found these exercises from a link a friend sent to me; the exercises are not technical, require no gym equipment and, all are able to be adjusted to accommodate your limitations.

Exercise #1: Sciatic Nerve Floss
Sciatica nerve floss

How it helps:
Sciatic nerve flossing can help relieve lower back pain by massaging the trapped nerve. Sciatic nerve flossing is done to “massage” the sciatic nerve when it becomes compressed by the muscles.

How to do it:

• Sit on a chair or table in a slouched position with both legs hanging off the edge.
• Place your hands on your thighs.
• Extend (Straighten out) your knee and look up with your head.
• Now, lower Leg while bending (flexing) neck down.
• Return to starting position.
• Repeat 10 times, 3 times daily.

Exercise #2: Cat & Cow (Use low range of motion)
cat and cow stretch

How it helps:
The cat and cow is a great spine mobility exercise that can help decompress the low back.

How to do it:

• Begin by kneeling on all fours with your hands positioned under your shoulders and your knees positioned directly below your hips.
• Exhale and arch your spine gently.
• Hold this position for 2 seconds.
• Inhale and tighten your core muscle while you round your back.
• Hold this position for 2 seconds.
• Aim for 10 repetitions.

Exercise #3: Lying Figure-4 Stretch (For Piriformis)
Lying figure 4 stretch

How it helps:
Sciatica pain can often be caused by what is called piriformis syndrome (Coming from tightness of piriformis muscle in the butt area). This stretch will relieve the tension in the piriformis, to ensure that it’s not compressing on the sciatica nerve.

How to do it:

• Begin lying on your back with your knees bent and feet positioned flat on the floor
• Place your right ankle over your left knee
• Use your hands or a band to pull the left thigh towards your chest, and hold for 20 to 30 seconds
• Repeat on the other leg
• Aim for 3 repetitions on each side

Exercise #4: Half Cobra Pose
Half Cobra pose

How it helps:
The half cobra pose creates spinal extension helping push back disc material (that may be compressing on the nerve) back towards the centre and reduce pain symptoms from sciatica.

How to do it:

• Begin this exercise by lying on your stomach (prone position) and slowly prop yourself up on your elbows while keeping your hips in contact with the floor.
• Hold the prop-up position for 10-15 seconds before returning to the prone position (lying face down).
• Gradually increase to holding the end position for 30 seconds. Aim for 10 repetitions of this stretch.

** Initially, you may not be able to tolerate this position very well, so make sure you start slowly and carefully.

Exercise #5: Full Cobra pose
Cobra pose

How it helps:
The full cobra pose creates even more spinal extension than half cobra helping push the disc material back towards the centre and reduce pain symptoms from sciatica. Be careful with this one and don’t overdo it.

How to do it:

• Begin lying on the ground with your hands flat on the floor at the level of your shoulders
• Slowly push your hands to raise your shoulder off of the ground until you feel a slight stretch
• Increase your range of motion by exhaling as you push further into lumbar extension
• Aim for 5 repetitions

So, if you are unfortunate to suffer with sciatica, why not try these simple exercises and see if they give you some relief.

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View the slider ofe images below to view the full exercise