Sciatic pain is a very unpleasant pain that can be stabbing or burning locally in the lower back, buttocks or radiating into the leg. Sciatic pain is also not uncommon during pregnancy. The pain can be caused by the altered statics due to the increasing weight of the abdomen, and hormone-related changes in the connective tissue can also promote irritation of the sciatic nerve. The growing baby can also directly irritate the nerve from a certain size onwards and lead to pain.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy for sciatic pain can include a variety of measures to alleviate the symptoms. The therapist can relax the tense musculature by means of specific massage techniques or trigger point therapy (pain points) and ensure improved blood circulation. Heat can also be pleasant.
With an advanced pregnancy, massage applications as well as heat therapy should be approved by the doctor. Fascial techniques can relieve the connective tissue. Fascial therapy can be helpful, but also very painful.
The therapist should always be consulted if the pain is too strong. Active therapy is particularly important. The patient is shown mobilization and strengthening exercises, as well as stretching exercises, so that she can strengthen her muscles and relieve the pain.
Since the sciatic nerve runs through the gluteal muscles, too much strain on these can lead to compression of the nerve. A loosening, mobilizing therapy as well as light stretching exercises can detonate the tense muscles (reduce the tension within the muscles). Subsequently, the overstrained musculature can be strengthened in a targeted manner to meet the special requirements of pregnancy.
In order to continue to avoid sciatica pain, it is important to learn a posture that is as gentle as possible. Despite the increasing weight on the belly, the expectant mother should try to stay upright and not “let the weight pull her into a bent position”, which can put further strain on the sciatic nerve. Postural training is also offered in physiotherapeutic treatment for sciatica pain during pregnancy.
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