It is important to perform regular exercises for sciatic nerve pain when experiencing sciatica. These exercises are called nerve or neural flossing. Nerve flossing helps to get the nerve moving within the body and decreases pain and inflammation.
All of our nerves travel through our body in small tunnels. Your nerves are attached at the origin of the nerve at the spinal column, and at the end of the nerve (usually the hand or foot).
As they travel through these tunnels they can get pinched or stuck from tight muscles, scar tissue or adhesions. When they get stuck they create nerve tension that can manifest itself as pain or tightness, just like with sciatica.
Nerve flossing helps to pull the nerve through these tunnels and helping free them up from entrapment and adhesions. Research has shown that the nerve can travel a couple of centimeters within it’s tunnel when nerve flossing is performed.
The idea is to pull from one end of the nerve while relaxing the other end of the nerve (like a puppet). Nerve flossing exercises for sciatic nerve pain are performed by pretending there is a string from your toe to your forehead.
In a sitting position, bend your knee backwards under the chair. This pulls the imaginary string from your forehead causing your head to lower at the same time.
Now raise your head to look at the ceiling, at the same time as you straighten your leg (the toe gets pulled by the imaginary string).
This exercise should be performed multiple times daily when experiencing sciatica, and can be used as a vital part of the home treatment for sciatica pain.
It is important to stop performing nerve flossing if you experience increased pain during the exercise.
This exercise can be performed sitting or lying on your back. Please tell us how useful you find this exercise, feedback is always welcomed and valued.