She is a very tense person, very active with little body fat. I've seen her three times now since the beginning of the year and it has helped her become more relaxed in the saddle. However lately she had regressed due to the pain she experienced from the sciatica.
Sciatic pain is caused by six conditions:
- a bulging or herniated disc
- lumbar spinal stenosis
- spondylolisthesis
- trauma
- piriformis syndrome
- spinal tumors
Although she is very toned, and also tense, her glutes were not activated. The gluteus muscles are very important in stabilizing the pelvis and assist in the external rotation of the leg. If her glutes were activated, the piriformis would not have gotten so tense and her sciatic nerve wouldn't have gotten irritated. Glutes are very important specially since the external rotation of the femur is a movement that is very solicited in equestrian sport.
During our 1 hour session I began with eliminating the pain, which I did. I always test to make sure that the pain is gone in every position: lying, sitting and then standing. The next step was to prescribe corrective exercises to reactivate her glutes and some stretches for the piriformis. We went though them together and then she was on her way.
It may seem incredible that I was able to eliminate this pain within one hour. However if you work *with* the body, there is much you can accomplish as the body WANTS to be more comfortable. It WANTS to heal.
We just need to give it the right information so that it can do that. How long this lasts is up to the client. Their responsibility is to create the best environment for the healing to continue.
She left comfortable and a little sleepy. It was great to be able to help. :)
Be well!
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