Exercises for sciatica pain in the buttocks

Sciatica can have a serious impact on your quality of life, causing symptoms throughout the lower body, including the buttocks. The long and wide sciatic nerve originates in the lower back and travels down into the lower body, sending important sensory and motor information to the hips, buttocks and legs. If a condition such as a herniated disc or strained muscle puts pressure on the sciatic nerve, symptoms including pain in the buttocks and legs, muscle weakness and tingling in the extremities can result.

Sciatica pain in the buttocks is common because the nerve travels right through this region after it branches off the lower spine. In fact, a strained piriformis muscle in the buttocks can also result in sciatica-like symptoms here. There is a wide range of treatment options for sciatica, with physical therapy being one of the more common and effective. We hope that by learning more about how a therapist can help you with exercises for sciatica pain in the buttocks, you can take an active role in your treatment. 

How physical therapy exercises help with sciatica pain

The first step in treating sciatica with physical therapy will involve a thorough assessment with your therapist. By asking questions about your symptoms, reviewing your medical and treatment history, and performing physical and movement tests, he or she can help you design a personalized treatment plan with exercises designed to accomplish the following: 

• Reduce pain and inflammation
• Improve posture to relieve pressure on the nerve
• Increase strength in the surrounding muscles to better support and stabilize the area
• Increase range of motion 
• Minimize movements that compress the sciatic nerve

In physical therapy, exercise will typically be combined with manual therapies and other treatments, as well as instruction on at-home care and lifestyle choices to comprehensively treat your sciatica. 

Start your sciatica relief journey at Armor Physical Therapy

At our state-of-the-art clinics, the Armor Physical Therapy team has been helping patients overcome sciatica pain in the buttocks and throughout the lower body for years. We’ll do everything we can to fully assess your condition and custom-tailor a treatment plan to get you back to the people and activities you love. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us today to schedule your initial appointment.