The sciatic nerve plays a crucial role in the health and function of your lower body, yet many people are unaware of its significance until problems arise. When issues with the pelvis or lower back occur, the sciatic nerve often bears the brunt, leading to pain, discomfort, and reduced mobility in the hips and legs.
Let’s take a look at some interesting facts about the sciatic nerve and explore how chiropractic care can provide relief and restore function:
1. At its largest point, it is as thick as a person’s thumb
In addition to sending a lot of nerve information, the sciatic nerve has to be strong and robust, stretching when necessary, and must be able to adapt to the long strides we take when running and jumping.
2. It is made up of 5 nerve fibres
The sciatic nerve is, more accurately, five nerves that come together on the right and left sides of the lower spine. A chiropractor must test all five nerve roots to find the cause of injury.
3. Without the sciatic nerve, your legs would be limp
The sciatic nerve provides sensory and motor function to the legs, along the back of the thigh and to all areas below the knee. When problems arise, they can manifest in a number of ways; loss of strength, clumsiness, repeated sprains, numbness, and of course, pain.
4. Injuries to the sciatic nerve can damage connections in the brain and the legs.
If an injury exists for a long period of time then the brain will adapt and remodel. This can change the nature of the injury and result in a longer healing time due to the brain needing to be retrained. Chiropractic care should begin as soon as possible after injury.
5. Back injuries are the most common cause of sciatic pain
Chiropractors have a unique and effective way to determine injury to the sciatic nerve. Analysis of the lower lumbar spine, SI joints, pelvis ligaments, and muscles such as the piriformis allows chiropractors to quickly achieve great results. These techniques are both conservative and effective.
6. Weight has little effect on sciatic pain, but height does
A 1991 study of 2946 women and 2727 men published in ‘Spine’ found that neither gender nor body mass made any difference in the likelihood of developing sciatica. Body height did, however, with taller people being more likely to have the condition. If you are over 5’8″, you are at greater risk.
7. Sciatica is common
Depending on how it is defined, up to 40% of people have sciatica at some point in time. This, of course, includes those with very mild symptoms, but nonetheless, this is a high percentage. It was most common during the decades of the 40s and 50s.
Get on the Path Towards Relief
The good news is chiropractic care is very effective at managing and resolving these issues. By analysing the spine, pelvis, and surrounding muscles, chiropractors can alleviate discomfort and promote long-term healing.
If you’re experiencing sciatic pain, don’t wait – early intervention can make all the difference in your recovery.