Advance Physical & Aquatic Therapy

Suffering from Sciatica? Physical Therapy Has Solutions

Are you dealing with burning, shooting pain that radiates from your lower back into your foot? This is the hallmark of sciatica, an often misunderstood nerve condition. While sciatica can be extremely painful–and often debilitating–you don’t need to despair. Physical therapy at Advance Physical & Aquatic Therapy has solutions to help you find relief.

Sciatica is named for the sciatic nerve, one of the primary nerves in your body. Its roots are located in your lower back, and the nerve runs through the buttocks and down the back of the leg into the foot. While some people will refer to any pain in the lower extremities as sciatica, the term only refers to symptoms that stem from the sciatic nerve.

To help you better understand sciatica and what physical therapy can do to help, we want to share a case study of one of our patients, a 55-year-old woman we’ll call Sally. If you suspect you may have sciatica, schedule an appointment with us today!

Request Appointment

Exploring Sally’s Symptoms

Sally’s pain was quite severe. She mostly felt it in her right leg–a shooting, electric pain that seemed to split down the back of her calf muscle. Occasionally, she felt a dull ache in her lower back, but her leg pain caused her the most trouble. It was worse when she was lying down or had to be on her feet for long periods.

The other issue–and the reason she ultimately found her way to our clinic–was that she also experienced a persistent pins and needles sensation down the back of her leg, which alarmed her. As her leg began to feel weak and heavy, she knew her symptoms weren’t going away on their own.

Identifying the Root Cause

Our physical therapists listened to Sally explain her symptoms and then performed a comprehensive physical evaluation to assess her strength, range of motion, and key areas. We also took a complete health history.

While we could confidently say Sally had sciatica, it was more important for us to determine why she had it. The truth is that sciatica isn’t so much a condition in and of itself as a sign that something is wrong with the sciatic nerve–usually that it’s been compressed or irritated.

So we dug a little deeper and confirmed what we suspected: Sally had developed a herniated disc. Herniated discs occur when the cushiony material between the spine’s vertebrae bulges outward. In Sally’s case, that bulging disc was pressing against her right sciatic nerve root, sending symptoms radiating down the nerve itself.

Addressing the Issue

Once we knew Sally’s sciatica had developed due to a herniated disc, we were able to create a personalized treatment plan to address it. Fortunately for Sally, physical therapy is an excellent way of resolving pain from a herniated disc.

We began with acute pain management, particularly through manual therapy techniques like spinal mobilizations (guiding the back through its current range of motion) or soft tissue manipulation (a massage-like manipulation of the muscles and other tissue).

These techniques offered acute pain relief so Sally could begin working on a personalized exercise program. At first, we focused on gentle back stretches and encouraged Sally to walk around her block a few times a week.

But as she improved, we began incorporating core strengthening exercises, too. Why core strength? Well, your core muscles support and stabilize the spine; the stronger they are, the more support they offer the lower back. We guided her through a progressive series of exercises, increasing the intensity as she got stronger.

Finally, we gave Sally the tools she needed to prevent future herniated discs. Namely, we encouraged her to stay active, maintain her spine mobility, and continue strengthening her core. We also showed her proper lifting technique so she would be less likely to injure herself.

Find Your Own Sciatica Relief Today

If you have sciatica symptoms, you don’t have to suffer! The team at Advance Physical & Aquatic Therapy can help you pinpoint the cause of your sciatica and find a solution that works for you. Call us today to get started.

Say Goodbye to Pain – Get Started with PT Now!

Ready to feel your best again? Come back to Advance Physical & Aquatic Therapy and let us help you achieve your wellness goals—book your appointment today!

Request Appointment

Enjoy these festive Cranberry Sparklers — a bright, bubbly drink that brings just the right mix of tart and sweet to your New Year’s celebration. They’re refreshing, fun, and the perfect way to toast to new beginnings!

Enjoy This Healthy Recipe!

Cranberry Sparklers Mocktail

Ingredients:

1 cup cranberries (thawed if frozen), plus more for garnish
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon orange bitters
1 750-ml bottle sparkling non-alcoholic dry wine, chilled
Seltzer, chilled, for topping

Muddle the cranberries with the sugar in a small bowl until the cranberries are in small bits and the sugar is dissolved. Strain into a large liquid measuring cup and stir in the bitters. (This can be done a day ahead; cover and refrigerate.)

For each drink, add 1 ounce of the cranberry mixture to a glass filled with ice. Top with about 4 ounces sparkling wine and a splash of seltzer. Garnish with cranberries.

Follow Us on Instagram!

Stay connected with Advance Physical & Aquatic Therapy! Follow us on Instagram for wellness tips, exercise ideas, and a behind-the-scenes look at our team in action. Don’t miss out! ✨

Click Here to Follow Us on Instagram

Shoveling Snow? How to Do it Safely

While some people have turned to snowblowers to clear their sidewalks and driveways, we’re still fans of the old-fashioned way–if for no other reason than it’s an excellent means of getting your heart pumping. You just need to follow a few simple tips to help prevent an injury:

Dress appropriately. The cold weather puts you at a higher risk of suffering muscle strain, so bundle up and stay warm.
Warm up first. Shoveling snow is a great workout, which means you need to warm up your body before you get started. Work through simple mobility exercises targeting your arms, shoulders, back, and legs.
Use proper form. It’s easy to fall into awkward postures when shoveling snow, so make sure you’re using good form (like lifting with the spine in a good position and avoiding rounding the back or twisting repeatedly to one side). Need some pointers? Our PTs are happy to help!

Looking for more guidance about shoveling snow–or performing other outdoor winter chores? Call Advance Physical & Aquatic Therapy to schedule an appointment!

Join us today here at Advance Physical & Aquatic Therapy for Wellness Yoga with Jen!

Jen will be hosting Yoga classes here in our Springfield clinic on Thursday nights at 7:15pm for all levels…no experience necessary.

We have 2 payment options:
$40 Per Month or $15 For A Drop In Class
(cash or check ONLY)

Please email Jen – jen@advanceaquaticpt.com or call our main number (610)544-8500 to sign up today

*If you decide to do a drop in class please give 24/48 hour notice to sign up*

Click Here to Email Jen About Yoga at APAT!

Exercise of the Month

MODIFIED PIRIFORMIS STRETCH

Start by lying on the ground with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Cross one ankle over the opposite knee and gently apply pressure to the top knee to deepen the stretch. Hold for 30 seconds. Slowly lower your leg back to floor and repeat on the other side.
3 Sets, 2 Reps.

We Want To Hear Your Success Story!

Has Advance Physical & Aquatic Therapy helped you live a better life? Let others know how much we can help them too! Click the button to leave us a Google review—your feedback helps others find the care they need!

Leave Your Review Here!

Exploring the Other Causes of Sciatica

While a herniated disc is the most common cause of sciatica, it’s by no means the only one. Here are some additional sciatica causes to be aware of:

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a condition in which the spinal canal narrows, entrapping the spinal cord and nerve roots. If a narrowed spine presses against the sciatic nerve root, it can lead to sciatica.

Spondylolisthesis

This refers to a condition in which your spinal vertebrae slip out of place, running into the vertebra beneath it. That slipped disc can press into the sciatic nerve root, leading to sciatica symptoms.

Piriformis Syndrome

Okay, this one is a bit of a cheat. It doesn’t cause sciatica per se, but it does cause sciatica-like symptoms.

The piriformis muscle is a flat, narrow muscle that runs from the lower spine (i.e., sacrum) through the buttocks and ends at the top of the thigh. The sciatic nerve runs underneath the piriformis. Piriformis syndrome develops when the piriformis presses against the sciatic nerve, leading to sciatic-like pain.

No Matter the Cause, We’ll Help You Find Relief

If you’re experiencing sharp, shooting pain in your leg, the team at (practice name) is here to help. We’ll determine the source of your pain and develop a personalized treatment plan to address it. Call us today to get started!

Thank you for subscribing to
Advance Physical & Aquatic Therapy

Refer a Friend

Our purpose at Advance Physical & Aquatic Therapy is to leave a greater impact on the community around us. In order to achieve our goal we want to change as many lives as possible as we become a beacon of positivity in our community.

Click Here to Refer a Friend!