Sciatica is a fairly common condition that occurs when the sciatic nerve, which branches from the lower part of your spine and runs through your hip and down the back of your leg, gets pinched or compressed. There are two common places this happens. First, and most commonly, the pinch is caused by a herniated disc in the low back which pushes against the nerve, or secondly, from compression by tight, deep gluteal muscles in the posterior hips. The result is often sudden sharp pain, burning sensations, weakness, or tingling and numbness often starting in the hip and sometimes running as far down as the foot where the path of the nerve ends. Some can have difficulty walking or standing due to the often severe nature of the discomfort, and some unfortunate people suffer occasional flare-ups of sciatica throughout their lives. Luckily sciatica related discomfort often goes away on it’s own but for people with recurrent flare-ups that need help managing the condition, or even those experiencing a stubborn case for the first time, massage can be very effective.
Massage can be a good choice for management of sciatic pain for several reasons. It can relieve lower back pain - one of the main symptoms of sciatica and it can reduce muscle tension and therefore reduce the likelihood of nerve compression from tight muscle tissues. Increasing range of motion is another feature of regular massage which can help lessen frequency of injury and help with recovery from a flare up. Massage can also help with the stress of a sciatic nerve injury by engaging anxiety reducing triggers in the nervous system.
Several massage modalities can help with sciatica symptoms including trigger point therapy - which involves treating the source of the pain with pressure and release techniques, deep tissue massage - which focuses on sinking to deeper layers of muscle using steady and slower compression strokes to release deep muscle tension, myofascial release techniques - which concentrate on assisting the layers of muscle and bone supporting fascia to move unimpeded, and swedish massage - a more general relaxation style which can be helpful for reducing compression and assisting in range of motion.
You should always consult your primary care doctor first before seeking treatment for sciatica, as while earlier examples of a compressed nerve or herniated disc are the most frequent causes, other more serious problems such as lumbar tumors and stenosis are possible and should be ruled out.
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