Is it Sciatica? Or is it a Trigger Point in your GLUTES?!
Did you know that Sciatica is a SYMPTOM, not a condition?
Hey HealthyHips Community! This is Iysha, CEO and Founder, here to teach you all about sciatica.
Did you know that sciatica is actually a symptom, not a condition itself? It’s a symptom associated with a few different conditions that can occur in the body.
Sciatica is typically characterized by sharp or shooting pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling along the pathway of the sciatic nerve.
First off, let’s take a minute to learn what the sciatic nerve is and where it can be found in the body.
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body. The nerve roots originate from the lumbar spine (low back) and sacrum.
The pathway of the nerve courses down the back of the leg. Just before the knee, the nerve branches into two main segments and continues down the lower leg towards the ankle/foot where it terminates.
Sooo… what causes sciatic pain?!
There are 3 main causes of sciatic pain or sciatica
A bulging or herniated disc
A bulging disc is a condition in which the inner portion of a spinal disc begins to protrude outside of it’s normal boundary. When this occurs in the lower back, it can put pressure on the sciatic nerve roots, causing radiating pain along the sciatic nerve pathway.
This is often referred to as “true sciatica”
Piriformis syndrome
After the sciatic nerve exits the area of the lower back, it then travel underneath the piriformis muscle (a deep gluteal and pelvic floor muscle) before entering the area of the leg. Due to the proximity of the piriformis muscle and the sciatic nerve, when this muscle becomes inflamed or tight it can compress the sciatic nerve and elicit pain distally along the course of the nerve.
Piriformis syndrome is often associated with pregnancy, pelvic floor conditions, and even PMS.
In approximately 15% of people, the sciatic nerve pierces the piriformis muscle (instead of being located behind it). This demographic is more at risk to experience sciatic pain from the piriformis muscle.
A trigger point in glute medius and/or minimus
A trigger point is defined as hyperirritable areas in a skeletal muscle characterized by a tender nodule (knot) or that can produce referred pain.
An active trigger point in the glute medius and minimus muscles have a pain referral pattern that mimics sciatica or sciatic-type pain
Pictured above: Glute medius trigger point pain referral
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?!
This means that your sciatic pain could be coming from a trigger point in your glute medius or minimus muscle! You can address said trigger points with self-myofascial release using a rubber therapy ball.
🌸 Want to learn more?! Join our 4 week HealthyHips in-person program this Spring 🌸 Details below ⬇️
What type of balls should be used for MFR?
A dense foam ball should be used for self myofascial release practices. The two types of rubber balls that are recommended are either the High-Bounce Pinky Ball that can be found on Amazon HERE, or Tune Up Fitness Balls which are available for purchase from the HealthyHips Prop Shop — see Add To Cart link below.
