| If you are fortunate enough to have never | | | | problem in your case, stretching your back can be |
| experienced sciatica, you may be wondering what | | | | helpful. You can do this while lying on the floor on |
| it is. The sciatic nerves run from your lower back | | | | your stomach and raising your torso up off the |
| down each of your legs. They are the largest | | | | floor. |
| nerves in the body, growing to more than a half | | | | If, however, your sciatic is caused by spinal |
| inch in diameter. Irritation or compression of these | | | | stenosis, a narrowing of the nerve's passageway, |
| nerves, which can range from a mild tingly pain to | | | | then different exercises will be more useful in |
| excruciating pain that is debilitating, is referred to | | | | alleviating your pain. These include stretching your |
| as sciatica. Many golfers experience lower back | | | | back by kneeling and bending your head toward |
| problems, and often this is due to sciatica. | | | | the floor with your arms stretched in front of |
| If you experience sciatica, a few days of bed | | | | you. Also try lying on your back and gently pulling |
| rest or lying on the couch is not the answer. | | | | your knees to your chest for relief of your pain. |
| Inactivity actually aggravates the problem. Weak | | | | The right exercises can alleviate your discomfort |
| or inflexible muscles can cause or intensify | | | | and help you better enjoy your golf game. |
| sciatica, so it is important to keep your back and | | | | As with many lower back problems, a good |
| abdominal muscles in good shape. While you don't | | | | preventative measure is to maintain good |
| need to spend hours at the gym, some | | | | posture, stay within a healthy weight range, and |
| strengthening and stretching of these muscles can | | | | exercise regularly. An appropriate fitness routine |
| provide a lot of good and get you back out on | | | | can help keep you pain-free while playing golf. The |
| the golf course. | | | | sciatic nerves are especially prone to flare up |
| Before you begin an exercise program to treat | | | | when you have weak muscles, poor posture or |
| sciatic pain, it is important to understand what is | | | | are overweight. Keeping your back in good shape |
| causing the pain. Usually this will need to be | | | | before you have problems goes a long way in |
| diagnosed by a medical professional. For example, | | | | reducing your likelihood of future back pain. |
| if you have a herniated disc your pain is being | | | | Whenever you experience pain or discomfort, |
| caused by disc material bulging out and applying | | | | you should always seek out the diagnosis of a |
| pressure on your nerve, which in turn irritates or | | | | physician so appropriate precautions and a |
| compresses your sciatic nerve(s). If this is the | | | | diagnosis can be made for corrective strategies. |