Osteopathic Manipulation Therapy (OMT) for Sciatica: What to Expect

Every year, about 5% of Americans develop painful sciatica symptoms, and about 40% of all men and women develop sciatica at some point during their lives. That’s a lot of people experiencing low back pain that can take a big toll on your comfort, mobility, sleep, and overall quality of life.

With offices in Boonton, Pompton Plains, and Jersey City, New Jersey, Jersey Integrative Health and Wellness treats sciatica with conservative, noninvasive treatments, including osteopathic manipulation therapy (OMT). Here’s how OMT could help you get rid of your painful sciatica symptoms.

Sciatica basics

Sciatica happens when the long sciatic nerve is irritated or compressed, typically where it exits your spine in your lower back. Once it leaves your spine, the nerve forms a right branch and a left branch. The right branch travels down your right leg, and the left branch travels down your left leg.

If the nerve is compressed, “pinched,” or irritated, you can feel pain in your lower back and anywhere along your leg, along with numbness and tingling. Many people with sciatica feel worse pain when they’re trying to sleep, but it can also affect you when you’re sitting or doing other activities, too.

Sciatica is often caused by a bulging or herniated disc. When a disc slips out of place, it can press on the nerve or cause inflammation that irritates the nerve. Bone spurs, a common “side effect” of arthritis, can also cause sciatica, and so can other spine-related conditions. If you’re overweight, do a lot of bending or lifting, or spend a lot of time sitting, your risk of sciatica increases.

How OMT can help your sciatica

Osteopathic manipulation therapy uses a holistic, hands-on approach to many types of pain, including sciatica. Using a variety of therapeutic approaches, OMT focuses on bringing your body back into balance, reducing and relieving uneven stress and strain that can lead to pain and other symptoms.

There are literally dozens of specific OMT movements aimed at relieving painful symptoms. Your treatment plan focuses on the cause of your sciatica and its symptoms. 

For sciatica, most techniques rely on relieving pressure on the sciatic nerve and promoting better circulation in the area. Some techniques may help coax a “slipped” disc back into position through soft tissue stretching.

OMT is completely noninvasive, making it a good choice for just about any patient. Plus, our team can teach you simple stretches and exercises you can do at home to maintain spine health and continue to improve your symptoms. Practiced regularly, these techniques may even help you avoid sciatica in the future.

Get relief for sciatica symptoms

The effects of sciatica are far-reaching, but fortunately, they’re also treatable. If you’re suffering from sciatica or any type of back pain, we can help you find relief. To learn how, book an appointment online or over the phone at Jersey Integrative Health and Wellness today.