How Massage Therapy Reduces Lower Back Pain, Sciatica, and Piriformis Syndrome

Sciatica is a condition that affects the sciatic nerve through inflammation and compression on the lumbar and sacral spine. Common causes of inflammation and irritation are sacral iliac sprains, compression injuries such as disc herniation, direct trauma to the nerve, tumours, or pregnancy.

Piriformis is similar in a way that the sciatic nerve is irritated by the piriformis muscle, located in the buttock, being tense. The sciatic nerve usually runs behind the piriformis muscle and in some people right through it. If you feel shooting pain or a burning sensation starting in the buttock, there is a good chance it is the piriformis muscle creating the sciatic nerve pain and not a lower back condition.

How massage therapy can help

Shooting pain, burning sensations, numbness and tingling are the usual symptoms of sciatic nerve irritation caused by sciatica and piriformis syndrome. Massage therapy is a very effective tool for the elimination of these conditions. Through the manipulation of soft tissue, the massage therapist can break up the adhesions or "scar tissue" that is formed through stress, injury, and overuse. Deep tissue massage is proven to eliminate and aid in the recovery of these conditions and should be used as a tool weekly until the condition has resolved.

Often adhesions build around the sacroiliac (SI) joint to the point where it can cause a trigger point or nerve impingement that mimics sciatic pain, or an achy back but is easily fixable with just a few massage treatments.

At home stretches and supports

Additional aids for recovery include the usage of ice or cold compress throughout the day, stretching of the glutes, lower back, hamstrings, and leg adductors. Some well-known stretches that help include bending over at the hips and simply hanging to relax, touching your toes, pigeon pose, bringing knees up to your chest one at a time and then together, and doing the splits. Other practitioner treatments include chiropractic, acupuncture, osteopathy – and a healthy diet.

With focused treatment, many clients have found long-lasting relief and recover in just a few sessions.