Low Back Pain and Nerve Flossing
Date: May 30, 2022
Normally, a nerve root moves in and out of the spine through holes located between each vertebra called intervertebral foramen.
The sciatic nerve is made up of five nerve roots that exit the spine and merge into one nerve that will travel down through the gluteus maximus and into the leg.
For patients under the age of 60, a most common cause of sciatica is a herniated disk. For older patients, a most common cause is spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis. When the sciatic nerve is pinched it can cause pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness in the legs and hips.
Normally, a nerve root moves in and out of the spine through holes located between each vertebra called intervertebral foramen. If we stand up straight and look to our toes, this pulls the spinal cord and the nerve roots move into the Intervertebral foramen.
To relieve sciatica, chiropractors recommend “nerve flossing.” This is when you make a back-and-forth motion of the five nerve roots that merge into the sciatic nerve. To do this you will extend your head/neck upward and the foot/ankle upward as well to pull the nerve roots out of the intervertebral foramen. To pull the nerve back out of the intervertebral foramen, point the ankle/foot downward while the neck/head flexes forward. You should repeat this multiple times as long as pain or other symptoms do not worsen.
Nerve flossing is performed first by a doctor of chiropractic to make sure this is done safely so that the patient can continue this at home!
Content Courtesy of Chiro-Trust.org
Dr. Augustine of Augustine Chiropractic in Wesley Chapel, FL, has over 31 years of experience treating patients for their neck pain and their ailments through personalized chiropractic care treatments. The locally owned and operated chiropractic clinic offers both in-office treatments and at-home therapy regiments to help people recover and heal from auto injuries and other conditions. The staff is dedicated to providing alternative and therapeutic solutions for better overall health. Give them a call today at (813) 994-6008 to schedule an appointment and visit their website to learn more about their services!