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Preventing Sciatica

By Gary Picariello

In a perfect world I can bend over at will without the worry and risk of falling on my face because I blew out my back. I think we both know that is a pipe dream on my part. Simple movements like reaching to pick up a newspaper have left me tied up in knots for weeks. Better that I (and you) learn the reasons and risk factors of sciatica which will help minimize the potential of suffering from it. A recent study sheds light onto what makes you more likely to develop sciatica.

More Common Than You Think

An article in the health journal Chironexus.net reports on a study which evaluated 5,261 participants aged 40-60. Researchers collected data on such factors as a participant's occupational class, physical and psychosocial working conditions, body mass index, smoking, leisure-time physical activity, and history of neck and back pain.

Risk factors for sciatica varied based on gender. For example, women were more likely to have sciatica if they worked in manual occupational classes, were overweight, smoked, lived a sedentary lifestyle, and had previous neck and back pain.

Meanwhile among men participants, those employed in semi-professional and manual occupational classes had higher risk levels. Researchers concluded that occupational class, unhealthy lifestyle and a personal history of back and neck pain made patients more likely to develop sciatica.

All told, scaitica is a malady more common than you would think.

Assessment and Treatment

Chiropractors have been successfully treating sciatica patients for years. Talk to a chiropractor about assessing your risk factors for sciatica and/or receiving effective treatment. Since there are many disorders that cause sciatica, the chiropractor's first step is to determine what is causing the patient's sciatica. Forming a diagnosis involves a thoughtful review the patient's medical history, and a physical and neurological examination.

A purpose of chiropractic treatment is to help the body's potential to heal itself. It is based on the scientific principle that restricted spinal movement leads to pain and reduced function and performance.

The type of chiropractic therapy provided depends on the cause of the patient's sciatica. A sciatica treatment plan may include several different treatments such as ice/cold therapies, ultrasound, TENS, and spinal adjustments (sometimes called spinal manipulation).

Don't wait for the worst-case scenario to occur before you go to see a chiropractor. Be proactive and schedule an appointment at the first sign of lower back pain or tingling in the legs. It could save you weeks of being out on your back. The friendly professionals at The Joint Chiropractic is a great place to start; there's no appointment necessary, and there's no hassle with insurance.


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