What is Sciatica?

Sciatic nerve pain is often associated with lower back pain, but the sciatic nerve runs from the back down to the knees and can affect quite a large area. Up to 40% of all people experience sciatic nerve pain in their lifetimes. There are several things you can do to treat sciatica during this time of isolation through the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, or any other time.

What Causes Sciatica?

Many different factors could trigger sciatica, such as bad posture while working, lifting, standing, or sitting; an injury to the spine; and certain medical conditions. These may include a herniated disk, a bone overgrowth, or a tumor near the spine and conditions in the area around the sciatic nerves could set off sciatica. Many cases, however, can be treated on your own as they have to do with posture and activity level.

Risk Factors for Sciatica

Certain factors may increase your risk of developing sciatic nerve pain issues:

• Age – initially presenting as early as 30s and 40s, although increased age brings greater risk;
• Professional requirements – jobs that require heavy lifting for long periods
• Sedentary lifestyle – job requires you to sit for long periods combined with a lack of physical fitness activity when you are off duty;
• Pregnancy hormones, changes, and pressure;
• Diabetes can cause degeneration;
• Being overweight or obese.

How is it Treated?

Always consult a licensed physician for proper diagnosis and treatment. In general, relief for sciatica can be found by incorporating a combination of the following into your routine:

• Ibuprofen;
• Light stretching and walking;
• Alternating hot and cold compresses as needed;
• Self-massage such as with a smooth Physix Gear massage ball.

Massage balls are very effective in that they can accomplish the following:

• Increase blood flow to the area
• Decrease lactic acid by removing it more quickly via increased blood flow
• Interrupt the pain cycle in the brain using pressure
• Relieve surrounding muscle tension and knots resulting in instant lasting pain relief

Not sure how to use a massage ball? Physix Gear offers a booklet with each risk-free purchase to help guide you through self-massage basics with the purchase of a massage ball.

The basics: You can lay on top of one single massage ball and roll or even affix two balls together with some tape and complete some arm raises to help the lower back / lumbar regions. Remember, you are in control of the pressure with massage balls as you align your body with the massage balls, so if something doesn’t feel right, you can always adjust where you place the massage balls.

While using massage balls, you should avoid putting too much pressure directly on joints or bones. It’s ok to crossbones if you are circularly using the massage ball to target an area but to prevent damage, don’t go directly along a bone. You can start out using your massage balls for about 30 seconds at a time, or as long as you need to while the pain persists.

The great thing about self-massage balls is that you don’t need a partner to reap the benefits of self-massage, and you can take them with you easily wherever you go – to the gym, during travel, and back home again! Massage balls are inexpensive, yet effective.

Other changes that may be helpful are adjusting your posture as you perform daily tasks and taking part in regular exercise; these can help to prevent sciatic nerve pain in the future or relieve current pain that is being experienced.

Where to Purchase Treatment Products

Physix Gear Sport is a world leader in self-massage gear such as massage balls. Physix Gear has a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Click here to order your massage balls today - if for some reason they don’t work for you, send them back for a full refund! Our shipping department is fully operational during the coronavirus response to bring you quality self-care products that you need during this time.