Massage Gun for Sciatica Pain: A Simplified Guide in 2023
Sciatica is the pain that occurs along the sciatica nerve paths. These nerve paths begin at the lower back, through the buttocks and the hips, and travel down to both legs. Sciatica pain is usually caused by inflammation, pinching, irritation, spasm, or suppression of the nerves in the lower back or legs.
Sometimes, sciatica pain can go away on its own. However, for some people, it may require some self-care treatment and specialized equipment like a massage gun.
Before the pain causes numbness in your legs, below are a few things you should know about doing away with the pain by using pressure points and a massage gun for sciatica pain.
What Pressure Point Relieves Sciatic Pain?
Before using specialized equipment, natural techniques are also effective in relieving pain. While no scientific research fully supports trigger points in the sciatica nerve path, other studies support using traditional methods such as acupressure in treating the pain. This is especially true when the cause of sciatica is blood stagnation, which leads to spasms, increasing tension that causes sciatica.
Let’s take a closer look at the main pressure points to relieve sciatica pain.
a. Heel pressure points
At the heels, the area inside the edge of the heel and the area behind the ball of the foot can refer to pain in the sciatica nerve. To release pain at these points, you can place a tennis ball or a lacrosse ball under your foot and roll it around as you search for a tender spot. When you get the tender point, you can continue moving the balls to the point as you apply pressure for about 1 minute.
b. Glute pressure points
Sciatica can be caused by pain in the gluteus maximus, the muscles in the buttocks. To release pressure on these muscles, you can place a tennis ball or a lacrosse ball under your butt as you try to find the tender point. When you reach the point, you can apply some pressure on the spot for 1 minute to relieve the pain.
c. Ball of foot pressure points
The two main pressure points at the ball of the foot include the area behind the big toe and the area under the ball of the foot. To release pain, you can place a golf or a tennis ball under the area and roll the ball around. Once you find the exact point, apply some pressure to them for about 2 minutes.
What Is the Best Massager for Sciatica Pain?
The type of massager method you choose will determine the quality of the therapeutic massage and the effectiveness of the part affected. However, the best massager for sciatica pain can vary from one person to another depending on the pain tolerance and individual preferences. Some of the best massager techniques to use include:
A. TENS unit
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) units are small portable devices used to alleviate sciatica pain. They are effective treatment methods for different kinds of body pains along the sciatica path.
These devices use electrical impulses to the body by attaching electrodes to the skin in the areas experiencing pain. The pads stimulate the nerve fibers, which help relieve the pain. Also, TENS Units obstruct the pain signals from reaching the brain through the nerves.
b. Foam roller
A foam roller can be an effective way to release pain in the butt and the hamstrings. The method increases blood circulation to the affected areas, reducing blood stagnation and promoting healing to the affected areas.
Foam rolling also increases tissue extensibility and muscle relaxation, reducing stiffness and relieving sciatica pain. However, it is essential to note that it is not good to use a foam roller in case of lower back pain due to the strains it puts on the spine.
c. Ice pads
Most people are conflicted between using a hot pad or ice pads to heal sciatic pain. While a hot pad can work well for some people, it can sometimes worsen inflammation or cause fluid buildup. When you use an ice pad for sciatica pain, some of the benefits that you can get include the following:
- It increases the nerve pain tolerance and lowers the pace of the pain signals to the brain
- It cools down the muscle fibers, reducing muscle spasms
- Reduces the oxygen intake in the tissues reducing inflammation
d. sciatica Massage Gun
Sciatica can develop due to compressed or tight muscles. Massage guns use percussive therapy, which is essential in loosening tight muscles and reducing muscle tension, a vital process in relieving sciatica pain. Massage guns are also effective ways to minimize dependent on drugs which have side effects. With a massage gun, you can perform self-massage whenever and wherever sciatica pain occurs.
e. Infrared light therapy
This is a trending method for treating inflammation and pain in various body parts, including the sciatic nerves. The technique uses light that penetrates about 1.5 inches into the body and works on the irritated parts of the nerve ending, such as the sciatic nerves. It also increases blood flow to the muscles, which is essential in healing them.
Are massage guns good for sciatica?
Massage guns can help to provide temporary relief for sciatica symptoms. However, they do not address the underlying cause of sciatica. If the sciatica is caused by a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or other structural issues, massage guns may not be effective in proving a long-term solution.
Can Massage Make Sciatica Worse?
In some cases, massage can worsen sciatica, mainly when much pressure is applied or the use of poor techniques that are not appropriate to the part affected by the sciatica pain.
A good example is when deep pressure is used, it irritates the sciatic nerve, which can cause increased discomfort and pain. Also, massage may not be an effective treatment method for other causes of sciatica, such as spinal issues or herniated disc problems.
Bottom Line
To stand on the safe side, always inform your doctor before turning to any form of massage in case of sciatica pains. This will allow the therapist to assess you and give you a go ahead depending on the part affected by the issue to be treated and to avoid side effects after treatment.
