Sciatica Exercises: The McKenzie Method

There are a number of sciatica exercises that those seeking relief from painful sciatica in the back and/or leg can try.

One of the most common types of exercises recommended for sciatica relief are McKenzie exercises which were invented by physical therapist from New Zealand, Robin McKenzie. Many believe that these exercises are a very safe and effective way to treat sciatica with some saying that people suffering from sciatica can get better results doing these exercises than taking medication or having injections.

The McKenzie Method for back pain and sciatica relief can be learned and done on your own. However, it may be more effective to go through a more comprehensive program involving assessment and training in the exercises with the help of a physical therapist trained in the method.

The main goal of the McKenzie Method is what’s referred to as “centralization” of the pain. Basically what this means is that the back pain and other symptoms such as numbness are diminished in the areas furthest away from the low back/spine. So if, for example, the sciatica pain radiates all the way down to your foot, doing the McKenzie sciatica exercises would try to get the pain out of the foot and only radiate down to the knee.

Success with McKenzie exercises may not be immediate. And success may even include the pain getting worse in the lower back, if the sciatica in the leg signifiantly decreased or disappeared completely. The idea being that over time, the pain in all areas would be reduced over time even if they got worse in some areas at first.

As with any exercise program you want to consult with a health care professional first. To give the McKenzie sciatica exercises a try for yourself, we’d recommend purchasing a detailed book/DVD or visiting a therapist trained in the McKenzie Method.