How to Treat Sciatica With Massage

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body. Sciatica is pain that spreads from the lower back, throughout the buttocks and down the sciatic nerve and along the back of the leg through the knee to the big toe. It often feels worse on one side of the hip. Sciatica may be caused when the nerve is pinched from sitting on a hard surface, or wearing a tight belt; anything which can put pressure on the nerve. Often the pain is quite debilitating.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• pillows
• massage oil
• ice cubes

How to Treat Sciatica With Massage

1. Sit comfortably on a bed, chair or on the floor, whichever is most comfortable for you.

2. Support your lower back with cushions or pillows.

3. Rub massage oil into your open palms.

4. Use your palms and your fingertips to lightly stroke the area from behind your knee to your hip. Use long, gliding strokes and keep stroking towards your heart. Keep massaging for 2 or 3 minutes.

5. Massage from the hip and down the back of the knee, following the course of the sciatic nerve. Do this for 2 or 3 minutes.

Tips & Warnings

• Follow the massage sequence by rubbing an ice cube over the same area or using an ice pack wrapped in a towel.
• You can also work the sciatic nerve reflex points on the bottom of your feet, which are located across the bottom of each foot about an inch from your heel.
• You can also work the hip/sciatic nerve points near your ankles which are located just above your ankle joint on the outside.
• Do not use this massage if the sciatic nerve is inflamed.
• Pregnant women should use very gentle pressure when doing this massage because too much pressure could stimulate the saphenous vein which could cause pelvic contractions.

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