- RECOGNISING SCIATICA -

Sciatica symptoms - what you may be experiencing

Sciatica symptoms vary considerably depending on the cause and which nerve root is affected. However, most people with sciatica experience some combination of the following. In particular, if symptoms include bladder or bowel changes, seek medical attention immediately.

When sciatica persists after other treatments

Many people come to The Sogunro Practice having already tried physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, steroid injections, and various medications. In particular, they have usually experienced short-term relief from some of these — but the sciatica keeps returning.

This is almost always because the root cause — the movement dysfunction and muscle imbalance maintaining the nerve irritation — has not been addressed. As a result, relief lasts only as long as the treatment itself is continuing.

Lasting sciatica relief requires two things working together. First, the nerve irritation must be reduced through appropriate soft tissue treatment. Then, the movement patterns and muscle activation that are maintaining the problem must be corrected through the right exercises. In other words, treatment alone is not enough — and exercise alone is not enough. The combination is what delivers lasting results.

 How Osteolates Therapy helps sciatica→

01

ACUTE PHASE  Pain relief and nerve decompression - In the early acute stage, pain management and reducing inflammation are the priority. Osteolates soft tissue treatment techniques relieve compression on the adjacent nerves, improve circulation to the affected area, and establish the optimum spinal position. As a result, this prepares the body safely for the next stage of rehabilitation. No loading exercises are introduced at this stage. No loading exercises are introduced at this stage.

02

STABILISATION PHASE  Targeted rehabilitation — cause-specific exercises only - Once the acute pain stage has improved, rehabilitation exercise begins. This is the critical phase — and the point where most sciatica treatment goes wrong. Because of this, only exercises appropriate for your specific cause of sciatica are prescribed. For disc-related sciatica this looks completely different to piriformis syndrome or stenosis. The full STOTT apparatus — particularly the Cadillac — allows decompressive exercises that a reformer-only studio cannot offer.

03

PROGRESSIVE PHASE  Building strength to prevent recurrence - Once the nerve has settled and basic stability is established, progressive strengthening begins. In addition, Osteolates treatments continue alongside to maintain normal muscle tension and prevent build-up of abnormal loading on the spinal discs. Therefore, the risk of another acute episode is significantly reduced. Most clients then transition to a small group membership to maintain their progress long term.

WHY THE CADILLAC MATTERS FOR SCIATICA

The Cadillac apparatus allows decompressive traction-based exercises that are particularly effective for disc-related sciatica. However, most Pilates studios in St Albans are reformer-only. As a result, Applied Pilates can offer exercises for sciatica that other studios simply cannot.

Full apparatus studio →→

OSTEOLATES AND SCIATICA

Osteolates soft tissue treatment prepares the tissue before exercise and maintains muscle balance throughout recovery. In other words, it is both a treatment and a preventative measure — reducing the risk of the sciatica returning once resolved.

Osteolates Therapy →→

"For prolapsed disc and sciatica patients, we use Osteolates to relieve nerve compression and establish the optimum spinal position — before any rehabilitation exercise begins."

TEEJAY SOGUNRO