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Fitness

Sciatica and the Sciatic Nerve

Feeling tingly? It could be love--or it could be sciatica (that not so fun pain that runs down your leg and makes it hard to bend over). Read on to make sure!

val worthington, valerie worthington, bjj, mma, brazilian jiu jitsu, grappling

Written by Valerie Worthington Last updated on February 16, 2018

The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body. It runs from the buttocks down the back of the thigh all the way to the foot, on either side of the body. Sciatica refers to any condition in which undue pressure is placed on the sciatic nerve or injury is caused to it, resulting in pain and/or weakness to the affected area. Sciatica is rarely if ever a condition on its own, and is instead indicative of an underlying issue1. It has many causes.

Research suggests that piriformis syndrome is a more common cause of sciatica than was earlier believed. This is relevant to athletes4 because piriformis syndrome is frequently, though not always, a result of overuse of the piriformis. The piriformis is a muscle in the buttocks attaching at the sacrum and the femur that abuts the sciatic nerve. When the piriformis is injured or goes into spasms, it can entrap, or put pressure on, the sciatic nerve.

Common symptoms of sciatica include lower back pain on one side that extends down the leg. This pain may also be characterized by numbness or weakness. It is this radiation of pain down the leg that differentiates sciatica from other forms of back pain.5

Treatment for sciatica varies depending on the cause. Medical professionals may prescribe rest, ice, or physical therapy. They may administer injections to reduce inflammation.6 In my own experience with sciatica, which was caused by piriformis syndrome, active release techniques (ART) helped relieve the pressure of the piriformis on my sciatic nerve. Following my treatment, I engaged—and still do engage—in stretching and mobility work.

val worthington, valerie worthington, bjj, mma, brazilian jiu jitsu, grappling

About Valerie Worthington

Valerie Worthington has been moving her body since before she was born, for many reasons and with many outcomes. She really started to pay attention to how, when, and why her body moves when she began training in Brazilian jiu jitsu in 1998. From then on, she became hugely invested in educating herself about how to optimize her body movement for BJJ and how to support it in doing so. She has observed that these endeavors require her to invest herself not only physically, but also mentally, emotionally, and psychologically, fueling a particular interest in the influence on her life of these dimensions of athletic activity.

Valerie has developed as a BJJ practitioner via her own training and competition preparation, teaching and coaching other practitioners, and writing about her life as a jiu jitsu devotee through the lens of her education, personal experiences, and professional background. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, and a doctorate in educational psychology from Michigan State University. She is a first-degree black belt in BJJ, as well as co-founder and proprietor of Groundswell Grappling Concepts. She trains at Princeton Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Princeton, New Jersey.

Most recently, Valerie is the author of How to Love a Grappler: A Guide for People Who Love People Who Love Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

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