The Hidden Muscle Causing Your Sciatica Pain And 2 Easy Stretches For INSTANT Relief

Many people suffer from sciatica, a painful lower back condition caused by a pinched nerve.

Sciatica can cause severe mobility problems and debilitating pain. In serious cases, the condition can lead to progressive lower extremity weakness, numbness in the upper thighs, and/or loss of bladder or bowel control.

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The Hidden Cause

In many cases, the cause of sciatica pain is actually a tight or misaligned muscle.

The piriformis muscle extends from the front of the sacrum through the pelvic cavity to attach at the top of the femur and covers part of the sciatic nerve. Because it’s woven through bone and other muscles, it can be missed when diagnosing sciatica.

Piriformis syndrome occurs when the piriformis constricts the sciatic nerve and other nerves in the gluteus. A competent massage therapist, chiropractor or osteopathic doctor is well aware that a misaligned piriformis can cause many types of pain in the lower back and extremities.

If the cause of your back pain is due to the piriformis muscle rather than a herniated disc, consider yourself fortunate—it’s treatable without surgery, physical therapy, or pharmaceuticals.

How to Treat Sciatica Pain

Muscles are meant to move—the piriformis no exception.

Stretching does wonders for releasing constriction and tension, thus reducing inflammation and/or misalignment, and relieving nerve pain as a result. Below are two exercises that target the piriformis:

1. Lie on your back with your legs flat. Pull the affected leg up toward the chest, holding your left knee with your left hand and grasping the ankle with the other hand. Leading by the ankle, pull the knee towards your opposite leg until you feel a light stretch—do not force the ankle or knee beyond the stretch. Hold the stretch for 30 seconds, then slowly return to the starting position. Repeat three times.

2. Lie on the floor with the affected leg crossed over the other leg at the knees and both legs bent. Gently pull the lower knee up toward the shoulder on the same side of the body until the stretch is felt. Hold a stretch for 30 seconds, then slowly return to starting position. Repeat three times.