When Should I See a Physical Therapist About Sciatica? 

As with most musculoskeletal pains, sooner is better! Many people try to ride out sciatic pain by taking pain medication and resting — which can actually be counterproductive and further worsen the underlying cause of your sciatica. By seeking out an early intervention, you can start feeling better faster.

You should also pay attention to changes in the severity of your pain or shifting sensations in your back and leg. Because sciatica is caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve, these changing symptoms can indicate something is happening to the nerve.

What are some of the specific symptoms of sciatica you should watch out for?

One symptom you absolutely shouldn’t ignore is any kind of incontinence when paired with sciatic pain. This indicates a serious medical emergency that may require surgical intervention — but our physical therapists will be here waiting to help you with rehabilitation!

Fortunately, such incidents are rare. In most cases, regular physical therapy is enough to resolve sciatic pain.

Physical Therapy: Frontline Treatment for Sciatica

One of the reasons physical therapy is so effective for sciatic pain is that it focuses on resolving the underlying cause. When you come in for your appointment, our therapists will perform a comprehensive evaluation to help us determine what might be irritating, pinching, or compressing your sciatica nerve.

We’ll ask you to share details about your symptoms, such as when they started and the exact sensations you’re experiencing (i.e., dull pain, shooting pain, numbness). We’ll also perform several movement screens that give us a complete picture of your situation. We might check the following:

Once we understand what’s causing your sciatic pain, we’ll develop a customized treatment plan to address that cause. The most common cause of sciatica is a lumbar herniated disc. 

Nestled between each vertebra in your spine is a vertebral disc, a soft cushion of cartilage that protects the vertebrae from rubbing against each other. If one of those discs becomes damaged — either because of a sudden injury or age-related degeneration — they can rupture or bulge, irritating the nearby sciatic nerve.

By addressing your herniated disc, you can resolve your sciatica. For most people, that means a targeted, progressive therapeutic exercise program paired with pain management techniques such as manual therapy.

Five Indoor Cardio Workouts To Get Your Heart Pumping This February

February might be National Heart Month–but, in many places, it’s also one of the coldest months of the year. Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures can make it hard to go for a morning jog or hit the gym.

The good news? You still have plenty of options to get your cardio in, no matter what the weather is doing outside! Here are five of the Fitness Matters team’s favorite indoor cardio workouts (that don’t require any expensive equipment):

If you’d like more guidance when planning your cardio routine, schedule an appointment at Fitness Matters! Our team will help you find the best exercises for your needs.