Sciatica is a general condition that refers to pain caused by compression or irritation of one or more nerves existing in the lower spine that make up the sciatic nerve. There are a number of different conditions that can cause sciatica and there are different exercises for sciatica as well. Exercises for treating back pain and leg pain from sciatica are meant to give low back pain relief.

Counterintuitive, it may seem at first, exercises for sciatica are usually better than bed rest. You may take rest for a couple of days after your sciatica pain increases, but after some time, idleness can actually make the back and leg pain worse. Without back pain exercises and movement, the back muscles become unable to support the back. Ultimately it may lead to weakening and chronic lower back pain. For people suffering from lower back pain and leg numbing from sciatica, some of the exercises for back pain are described as follows:

1) Piriformis Stretch
2) Crocodile Twist
3) Supine Knee to Chest
4) The Passive Back Arch

Relieving back pain through exercises helps in the exchange of nutrients and fluids to keep you healthy. A physical therapist or a chiropractor who treats the back pain and leg pain associated with sciatica may recommend exercise as part of a treatment program. Back pain treatment requires an accurate diagnosis for the cause of sciatic pain, as the specific lower back pain exercises are recommended depending on the cause of the sciatica. It is also important to get a diagnosis before starting any exercises for sciatica because although rare, sciatic pain can be caused by some serious medical conditions (such as an infection or tumor) that requires prompt medical attention.