What Does An Osteopath Do For Sciatica? The Answer Might Surprise You. Sciatica symptoms can range from mild pins and needles to feeling like you’re being stabbed.
While most of the symptoms aren’t dangerous, they can greatly affect your quality of life. So it’s great that you’re searching for treatment options.
But we know how many questions you have swirling around your head right now.
- Should I see a chiropractor?
- Will home remedies solve my problems or do I need to go to a clinic?
- What about osteopathy?
That’s why we’re going to set the record straight so you can get the right treatment for your sciatica.
First, we’ll settle the chiropractor vs osteopath for sciatica debate.
Table of Contents
Chiropractor or Osteopath for Sciatica?
Chiropractors and osteopaths can both be great options for treating your sciatica. But there are differences between them.
The Chiropractic Approach:
- Focuses on the structure and function of the spine and how it relates to musculoskeletal and neurological problems
- Believes that the body can heal itself once the spine is healthy
- Treats patients by making chiropractic adjustments to the spine. These adjustments improve spinal health.
The Osteopathic Approach:
- Focuses on holistic treatment— a.k.a. treating the body as a whole.
- Creates a treatment plan based on your personal health history. This history includes previous injuries and surgeries, emotional stress, and more.
- Calls on a range of remedies, both conventional and alternative.
- Can address severe cases of sciatica in any area of the body
While the chiropractic approach can be successful, osteopaths can treat sciatica from many different causes. So unless you’re 100 percent sure a chiropractor can solve your sciatica, seeing an osteopath is your best option.
How an Osteopath Can Assist With Your Case of Sciatica
Osteopaths will start by analysing your medical history and examining your physical health. But, in severe cases, you may need an MRI scan or to see an orthopaedic specialist.
Once the analysis is complete, your osteopath will create a personalised treatment plan to ease your pain.
How an Osteopath Can Help Ease Your Sciatica Symptoms
Before your osteopath can tackle the cause of your pain, they’ll begin with reducing your symptoms.
Your therapist will take you through various treatments to reduce muscle spasms while improving joint and spinal mobility. These outcomes help to relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve and reduce your pain.
Next, your osteopath will prescribe various recovery and rehabilitation exercises that prevent sciatica from returning. These exercises focus on building muscular strength and restoring your mobility.
What is the Best Way to Get Rid of Sciatic Nerve Pain?
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the treatment options out there. But how do you know which one will work for you?
We fully recommend that to get rid of sciatic nerve pain is through a program from an osteopath or physiotherapist. Your therapist will choose specific remedies and strategies after a health assessment, rather than playing a guessing game.
Sciatica Treatment FAQs
What is the difference between a Chiropractor and an Osteopath?
Chiropractors focus on spinal health and how it relates to pain and other issues in the body.
On the other hand, osteopaths take a holistic approach to improve many facets of your body which leads to symptom reduction.
Should I see an Osteopath or Chiropractor for Sciatica?
We say the best course of action is osteopathy. Since osteopaths treat the body as a whole, they can treat many different causes of sciatica.
How to cure Sciatica in eight minutes?
You can reduce sciatic nerve pain with stretching that focuses on the lower back and legs.
These stretches include:
- Runner’s Lunge
- Sleeping Pigeon
- Crescent Twist
- Pyramid Pose
- Forward Fold
- Lying Spinal Twist
- Seated Spinal Twist
- Figure Four
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