Sciatic Nerve Pain Exercises

Sciatic nerve pain is very common and is relieved by man things, but it is mostly relieved by exercising. There are many exercises used to release nerve pain, but they must be done correctly or they won't do anything. Most if not all exercises can be done at home without any fitness equipment. The following exercises should be performed 2-3 times per day. The first stretch doesn't quite have a name but it is very effective. To perform this stretch lie on your back with your knees bent up, having your feet flat on the ground they should be about 5-6 inches from your buttocks. Next take the affected leg either your right or your left and place it on your other leg's thigh behind your other leg's knee. Now which ever leg is still in the starting position you are going to need to take the farthest hand from that leg and put it through your legs, and then take your other hand and put it to the outside of the leg in the starting position. Once you have done that, take your hands and interlock your fingers, your leg should now be inside your interlocked hands/arms. Next pull your knee towards your chest and hold the stretch for 10-15 seconds, make sure you repeat this stretch about 5 times. Another stretch or pose called the Piriformis stretch is a very helpful sciatic nerve pain reliever. To perform this stretch you are going to need to get up on all fours, on your knees and hands. Next put your elbows down on the ground forming a right angle with each arm. Now you should have your elbows on the ground and your knees on the ground. Once you have done that, take one leg and straighten it out with your toes touching the ground. Next take the leg that isn't straightened and rotate it inward so that your shin is underneath your body and your foot comes out on the other side. Hold this stretch for 20 seconds and perform it a few times, now do this stretch to the other side. Another stretch can be done by laying on your back keeping one leg straight bring the other leg's knee up so that your foot is 5 inches from your buttocks just like from the stretch earlier, but this time you are going to pick the foot up about 1-2 inches from the ground. Now support that leg's thigh by holding with both hands. To actually perform the stretch straighten the leg that you are holding, straighten it so that it is pointing to the ceiling. Once you have done that bring your foot back down to your buttocks and repeat this 10-15 times. Now try this stretch to the other side. If you do these stretches/exercises on a daily basis your sciatic nerve pain should slowly drift away.