| While sciatica exercises are definitely important to both | | | | a situation in which the pain would leave the thigh and |
| short and long-term recovery, not all exercises | | | | only extends far as the hip. |
| promoted for sciatica are actually appropriate during | | | | A position or exercise that results in symptom |
| acute symptoms and may actually make things worse. | | | | centralization is one that will be beneficial, even in |
| For example, while commonly recommended to people | | | | situations where symptoms increase for a time in |
| with sciatica, exercises such as hamstring stretches | | | | areas closer to the spine. For example, if you had |
| and the yoga position, "downward facing dog" can be | | | | sciatica and low back pain and tried one of of the |
| beneficial as part of managing one's condition once the | | | | McKenzie exercises and the sciatica completely went |
| pain is reduced, these exercises can place tension on | | | | away but the back pain got worse, the exercise would |
| the sciatic nerve and aggravate an already inflamed | | | | still be considered beneficial and it would be |
| and sensitive condition. In general, any exercise that | | | | recommended to continue using it. In the long run, a |
| causes pain to increase in the leg and/or extend | | | | sciatica exercise that produces centralization will |
| further down the leg should be completely avoided | | | | usually eventually result in improvement in all |
| during the acute phase of sciatica. | | | | symptoms, even if more central (closer to the spine) |
| During the acute phase of sciatica pain, McKenzie | | | | symptoms get worse at first. |
| exercises provide one of the best and safest | | | | The simplest of the McKenzie exercises for alleviating |
| treatment approaches available - more effective than | | | | sciatica is done by simply lying on one's stomach on |
| medication and epidural steroid injections in many | | | | the floor or a firm surface and propping one's chest up |
| people. Though often associated with spinal extension | | | | on the elbows. This position puts the lumbar spine into |
| and mistakenly called the "McKenzie Extension | | | | an extended position, which may reduce sciatica by |
| Exercises", McKenzie method may involve any | | | | squeezing bulging disc material further forward and |
| number of spinal positions/movements. The underlying | | | | away from the spinal nerves that compose the |
| principle of the McKenzie technique is to test various | | | | sciatica nerve, thereby resulting in reduced |
| positions and exercises to determine what will create | | | | compression and inflammation. Although you can |
| the most "centralization" of the pain and other | | | | maintain this position for relatively long periods of time, I |
| symptoms. | | | | recommend doing it for short periods of one or two |
| McKenzie practitioners use the word "centralization" | | | | minutes with a rest break of at least a few minutes in |
| when the pain and other symptoms are relieved in the | | | | between. Taking short, frequent breaks keeps the |
| areas the greatest distance away from the spine. To | | | | lumbar musculature from getting tight, but still allows |
| give an example, in a person with sciatica all the way | | | | enough time to get good results in the majority of |
| down the leg to the foot, centralization might occur in | | | | cases. For more complex sciatica exercises, getting |
| which the pain left the foot and lower leg and then only | | | | detailed instructions either through an illustrated guide or |
| extended down to the knee. If the pain extended to | | | | an experienced health care practitioner is advised. |
| the knee at first, an example of centralization would be | | | | |