Sad upset young adult caucasian bearded man, in casual clothes, sitting on the sofa in the living room, massaging his back, suffering from back pain, suffering from arthritis, sciatica

What is better for Sciatica, Massage or Chiropractic Care?

So, which is better, massage or chiropractic care for sciatica treatment? There is no one-size-fits-all solution. It depends on the individual and the type of treatment program to which they respond best.

Sciatica is a pain that runs from the lower back to the buttocks and legs on one side of the body. It is caused by osteophytes – abnormal bone growths (also known as bone sour) or a slipped disc, also known as sciatica (spinal disc herniation). These conditions put pressure on the sciatic nerve, resulting in sciatica pain.

If you are unsure about which practitioner to see, we welcome you to consult with us so that we can help you determine which form of treatment is a better fit for you.

What Causes Sciatica?

Sciatic nerve pain is pain caused by trauma or pressure to the sciatic nerve. This causes back pain and numbness, which can often travel down the legs and affect anywhere from below the knee to around the buttocks.

The sciatic nerve is the longest in the human body, running from the lumbar spinal cord (located in the lower back) to the lower legs. This is why nerve irritation can cause a sharp pain to radiate in this manner.

An underlying condition, such as diabetes, can also harm the sciatic nerve. Often, people cannot pinpoint a specific injury that resulted in the condition.

Common causes of Sciatic Pain

Lumbar herniated disc: A herniated disc may compress the sciatic nerve on one side, resulting in symptoms in only one leg, or the disc may bulge or herniation on both sides, resulting in symptoms in both legs (bilateral sciatica.)
Degenerating Discs: Degeneration of tissues in the lumbar spine can compress or irritate the sciatic nerve.
Lumbar spinal stenosis: Spinal stenosis is a spinal canal narrowing that is more common in adults over 60. According to research, lateral recess stenosis may commonly cause sciatica in the elderly.
Spondylolisthesis: may cause bilateral sciatica and is more common in younger adults

Sciatica risk factors include:

Excessive weight can put extra strain on the spine,
Age-related changes to the spine
Occupations that require twisting the spine or lifting heavy loads
Prolonged sitting
Diabetes, which increases the risk of nerve damage

Sciatica and Chiropractic Adjustments

Even though it’s not life-threatening, sciatica can cause intense pain and make daily tasks difficult. Chiropractic adjustments work to relieve the ongoing pain caused by spinal disc herniation and can improve your overall wellness.

While most people are unaware, chiropractic treatment for sciatica is a common and effective method. As a safe and holistic approach to care, chiropractic care can also help patients avoid surgeries or medications that can have potentially harmful side effects.

Chiropractors strive to keep you as healthy and robust as possible. They will show you chiropractic exercises, stretching, and modalities like heat and ice to help you recover from the pain. Clinical studies show that chiropractic care helps with a variety of musculoskeletal injuries and ailments, as well as issues affecting the nervous system. Since this type of pain stems from the sciatica nerve, an experienced chiropractor can help you with it.

What are the benefits of massage for sciatica?

Regular massage therapy offers a promising way to help relieve sciatica pain. A qualified massage therapist can work on your muscles, joints, nerves, and/or layers of connective tissue deep beneath your skin, depending on the type of massage.

Deep tissue massage, Trigger-point therapy, Hot stone massage, Swedish massage techniques, and Neuromuscular therapy are a few massage techniques. A massage can cause the following changes to occur in your body, easing the sciatica pain. Some of the benefits of massages include:

Loosen and relax tense muscles: Massage therapy can effectively stretch, loosen, and elongate your muscles, improving pain and function in your lower back and legs.
Improve blood flow circulation: Hands-on soft tissue manipulation from massage stimulates the blood vessels in your skin and deeper tissues, relieving pain caused by sciatica.
Reduce stress: Sciatica pain may cause stress to your body and emotional being. Reduced stress contributes to a sense of relaxation and relief and a reduced perception of pain.
Release endorphins: Massage activates pressure receptors, which are special nerve fibers in your brain. Stimulating these receptors helps reduce pain by releasing endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good hormone.

Which is better?

If you have sciatica, you might wonder whether a chiropractor or a massage therapist is the best person to help you get relief. Both types of practitioners can treat sciatica effectively, but there are some critical differences between them.

Chiropractors treat the spine, which is where the sciatic nerve begins. They realign the spine and relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve using various techniques, including spinal manipulation.

Massage therapists, on the other hand, concentrate on relieving sore muscles and tension to improve overall body function and correct any movement patterns contributing to sciatica.

Contact Deep Roots Health Center to Schedule an Appointment Today

Are you looking for a chiropractor who can help you finally live pain-free?

Deep Roots Health Center is here to help! We specialize in Neurological-Based Chiropractic care and can help with various issues, including back pain, neck pain, headaches & migraines, sleep problems, asthma & allergies, posture correction, sciatica & disc bulge, and pregnancy back pain.