Sciatica : What You Should Know

Ever get a sharp pain in the back of the leg? A leg cramp that won't go away? You might have sciatica. 
There a lot of issues people come in to the Backrub to remedy. One of these such issues is sciatica- an ailment some people do not even realize that they have. So, what is it and how can you get rid of it?

Sciatica generally comes from pressure on the discs that cushion the bone- a "pinched nerve".  The nerve might be pinched inside or outside of the spinal canal as it passes into the leg. 

Aging wear and tear also can contribute, with sciatica effecting people aged 30 - 50.

Common symptoms of sciatica include:
- Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the leg or foot- A constant pain on one side of the rear
- A shooting pain that makes it difficult to stand up
- Pain in the rear or leg that is worse when sitting
- Burning or tingling down the leg

The main goals you want to reach when you're looking to treat sciatica is to reduce the inflammation and muscle spasms. Luckily there are ways you can do this without heading to the doctor:

Icing and Heat: Ice your lower spine area and around your hips for about twenty minutes - this will lessen the inflammation. Follow by applying heat, either through a hot bath or heating pads - which will increase your circulation and quicken the healing process.  

Stretching and Core Muscle Strength: Although you may not want to, a few stretching moves will help release muscle spasms and help prevent sciatica pain in future. Try this short helpful video for a stretching guide.

Massage Therapy: If stretching is out of the question, a massage can get you immediate relief. The Backrub practitioners offer deep tissue massage - for sciatica that means calming the muscle spasms and restoring the "numb" feeling you may have in your legs and feet. Regular visits also contribute to restoring your balance and body structure, an important component to healing many body ailments including sciatica. 

Come into The Backrub today for a session to help restore you body's natural balance - we're open 7 days a week! Walk-ins or booking available - 651-698-4567

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Rejuvenate For Summer: Part IV: Workplace Massage

With the long winter and hours inside working, our bodies have really felt the strain. A good massage helps alleviate much of the built up hours behind a desk, on your feet or behind the wheel.

 Many businesses have started incorporating regular workplace massages and there are a lot of positives. Whether it's employee appreciation, to alleviate stress during crunch time or an added health benefit, it can save money and boost morale.

Here's the lowdown on the benefits of a workplace massage, helping you feel much more limber for the summer months....

Job stress and related problems cost companies an estimated $200 billion or more annually, based on information from the American Institute of Stress and the American Psychological Association.

Workplace massages save money by:

 Increasing energy and morale

Attracting and keeping key talent

Reducing sick days and lateness

Showing your employees that you care

Even a brief massage can significantly improve employee problem solving abilities

The benefits for employees are endless:

Preventing pain caused by excessive repetitive movement

Calming the nervous system

Stimulating blood flow

Increasing immunity to colds and flu

Relieving headaches, migraines and back pain to improve posture

Massage also improves creative thinking and relieves fatigue.  It’s better than a cup of coffee!

Massage can help your team get through a demanding time or reward them for their extra effort. Read our next post, coming soon, on how The Backrub fits into your next workplace massage session.