Sciatica Treatment
in Overland Park

Physical Therapy for Sciatica Pain

Sciatica is a common lower back issue that can cause radiating pain in the back, hips, buttocks, and legs. The severity of the pain varies, but it can be debilitating. At Calibration Physical Therapy, our experienced physical therapists are dedicated to diagnosing and treating sciatica pain, helping you improve your quality of life.

How Does Sciatica Develop?

Sciatica refers to inflammation or irritation of the sciatic nerve, the body’s longest nerve, which extends from the lower back to the feet. Common causes of sciatica include:

• Herniated Disc: A spinal disc can bulge from its position, pinching the sciatic nerve.
• Bone Spur: Bony overgrowths in the spine can irritate the sciatic nerve.
• Piriformis Syndrome: The piriformis muscle can impinge on the sciatic nerve, causing numbness and pain.
• Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal can compress the sciatic nerve.

Common symptoms include burning, tingling, and muscle weakness.

The Importance and Purpose of Exercise for Sciatica

Mild to moderate sciatica can sometimes resolve with rest and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication. However, physical therapy is often necessary for lasting relief. Our sciatica pain physical therapy methods provide effective, non-invasive treatment to reduce pain and address the underlying causes.

Common Physical Therapy Treatments and Exercises for Sciatica

Our treatment approach includes both active and passive therapies, tailored to your specific needs. These may include:

Passive Treatments

• Manual Therapy: Hands-on therapy can loosen tight muscles and relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve.
• Hot and Cold Therapy: Alternating heat and ice promotes healing and soothes sore muscles.
• E-Stim Therapy: Our unique electrical stimulation therapy, NEUBIE (Neuro-Bio-Electric Stimulator), uses high-frequency, low-amplitude currents to reduce inflammation and pain associated with sciatica.

Active Treatments

• Targeted Exercises: Exercises designed to stretch and strengthen the muscles around the sciatic nerve, lower back, abdomen, pelvis, and thighs improve mobility and reduce flare-ups.
• Extension and Flexion Exercises: Introducing multi-directional spine movements will help relieve sciatica discomfort.
• Isometric Exercises: Strengthening exercises using bodyweight to build core strength without moving joints, ideal for acute sciatica pain sufferers.