Walking with Sciatica: Is Walking Good for Sciatica?

Is walking good for sciatica pain? Or is walking bad for sciatica? We’ll answer the two most important concerns related to walking and sciatica.

Starting with the research on walking. Did you know walking decreases the risk of sciatica by 33%? That’s right!

In fact, walking with sciatica has a better outcome than spinal surgery. So is walking good for sciatica? To say it shortly, walking is good for sciatica pain. But we’ll have a thorough look at it and learn how to walk with sciatica pain.

Walking is truly an effective exercise for sciatica treatment. It is a nice, organic way to relieve sciatica nerve pain.

What are the benefits of walking with sciatica? Can walking on a treadmill help sciatica? Is walking good for sciatica pain? How to walk with sciatica pain?

Let’s dig into the details!

Is Walking Good for Sciatica

To answer whether walking is good for sciatica pain or not, we must first acknowledge ourselves with the benefits of walking with sciatica.

Sciatica manifests as pain and numbness of the lower back, thighs, legs, and sometimes feet as well. Now to relieve any kind of pain, your first instinct will be pain-relieving medications.

However, some natural ways help relieve sciatica as well. For example, exercise, meditation, walking, and cycling. Among these, walking has excellent healing properties and we’ll find out why.

Benefits of Walking with Sciatica

Walking with sciatica naturally relieves the pain and numbness. It releases endorphins which are the body’s natural painkillers and work on healing sciatica nerve pain.

Furthermore, walking increases flexibility; improves joint mobility, provides help with recovery, and strengthens the muscles, or in simple wordings; keeps them alive.

Now to answer, is walking good for sciatica pain? We’ll say it sure is!

Walking has a natural tendency to alleviate sciatica symptoms. It is better than the long hours of bed rest and immovability.

Besides, moving the limbs enhances the blood flow providing more nutrition to the body. And to tell you the truth, that’s all you need!

So to put it in simple words, walking is a good exercise for sciatica.

Now that it’s clear that walking and sciatica make a great combo. Let’s determine how to walk with sciatica pain.

How to Walk With Sciatica Pain

It might sound funny that you have to learn to walk now. However, it’s not like you need schooling on how to walk with sciatica pain. There are a few important things to consider when it comes to walking and sciatica.

First of all, make a walking program. It must include the distance, time, and speed of your walk.

The next main thing is to focus on your posture. Walking is a good exercise for sciatica. However, to make the most out of it, you need to maintain a good posture. Here is how:

• Fix your eyes on a point far away.
• Keep your back straight and upright.
• Do not bend down the neck or lumbar region.
• Do not stiff your back. Try to be as relaxed as possible.
• Busy your abdominal muscles by tightening them and relaxing the back muscles.
• This will eliminate the risk of spinal injury and, in turn, sciatica.

Note: Always try to land between the arch (the center of the foot) and the heel. Then gently roll the toes, push yourself forwards.

It is recommended to take short steps and walk slowly to avoid any unnecessary injuries. Besides, walking will only prove good for sciatica if you pause, take a rest, and deep breaths in between.

Moreover, it is to be noted that if any pain is inflicted while walking, you should stop it right away. Then rest for a while and try again. If the pain gets severe, consult your doctor.

Will walking on a treadmill help relieve sciatica?

Many patients ask; is walking on a treadmill good for sciatica?

Well, experts suggest you can use a treadmill to walk. In fact, a treadmill is a great choice in conditions where you can’t walk outside. For instance, in bad weather or simply, when you are in no mood to go out.

So walking on a treadmill is exactly like walking on foot. And it is definitely good for sciatica as the speed and time are all under your control.

You can also use support, such as a cane, and wear a back brace to support your spine.

Note: Always rest post-walk. Your limbs will be tired once you are done walking. And in the case of sciatica, the pain can become severe if you continue to walk without resting.

So now you know how to walk with sciatica pain. Plus, the tips and tricks for walking with sciatica have also been discussed that you can use to fasten the healing process.

Even though walking is a good option for sciatica, however, there are a few things to avoid as well. Let’s quickly go through them!

Walking With Sciatica – Things to Avoid

Walking with sciatica can get uncomfortable in certain situations. There is no doubt in saying that walking is good for sciatica pain. We can all agree to this point now!

However, learning how to walk with sciatica pain and the things to avoid is important. Where many believe that walking is a good exercise for sciatica treatment, many have to go through the consequences later on.

Why is that?

Well, mainly because people overlook the slight details about sciatica and walking. So, whether walking will be a good experience for you or bad, solely depends on whether you know how to walk with sciatica pain or not.

Here are a few things to avoid when walking with sciatica:

• Avoid long walks
• Do not pace up
• Take support
• Avoid High-impact exercises
• Improve posture
• Avoid running, jumping, jogging until you notice any improvement from walking.
• Make sure there are no hills and inclinations on the surface you walk.

Most importantly, avoid putting too much pressure on the spine. These tricks will help you cover a longer mileage and can prove very effective during the recovery process.

Does Walking Make Sciatica Worse?

Walking is a low-impact aerobic exercise. Hence, walking is mostly good for sciatica pain. Besides, studies suggest that only less than 50% of people with sciatica experience any weakness.

But the question that is often asked is, does walking make sciatica worse?

Keep in mind that walking is good for sciatica as long as it does not put too much strain on the back.

In fact, you might experience sciatica while walking as well. And for that, you can rest or take medications if you want.

So, is walking bad for sciatica? The answer is, No!

As sciatica refers to pain and numbness due to compressed nerves. These compressed nerves may as well numb the ankle and foot.

Clearly, you won’t be able to walk afterward. Hence, in such conditions walking won’t be possible and may make sciatica worse.

But generally, walking is a safe option. It is the first thing your doctor will recommend when you present to him with back pain.

Note: Walking will only be bad if you don’t know how to walk with sciatica pain. Otherwise, walking proves good for sciatica pain.

FAQs

Conclusion

So in short, the first question you should ask your doctor when diagnosed with sciatica is: Is walking good for sciatica pain in your case? The answer is affirmative in most of the cases!

A treadmill is a great option too. In fact, walking on a treadmill is the best alternative for sciatica pain.

So that was all about walking and sciatica. Hopefully, after learning all the tips and tricks, it’s not hard to figure out how to walk with sciatica pain.

And remember to walk at a controlled speed. Walking with sciatica will definitely prove beneficial if you properly follow all the instructions.