Sciatica Leg Pain and Other Presentations
When to seek Soft Tissue Therapy Treatment
Sciatica leg pain ca be the cause of numerous reasons, most of the times due to soft tissue and joint injury or irritation, although not exclusively. We’ll focus on pain radiating down the leg.
Radiating pain down the leg can be caused both by problems in the lumbar spine or by an overworked, injured or irritated muscle either in the leg itself or higher up in the body.
Muscles get usually irritated due to overuse, underuse or inappropriate use, frequently developing trigger points.
Sciatica leg pain ca be the cause of numerous reasons, most of the times due to soft tissue and joint injury or irritation, although not exclusively. We’ll focus on pain radiating down the leg.
Radiating pain down the leg can be caused both by problems in the lumbar spine or by an overworked, injured or irritated muscle either in the leg itself or higher up in the body.
Muscles get usually irritated due to overuse, underuse or inappropriate use, frequently developing trigger points.
We covered the concept “trigger point” in previous posts. Go check it out if you’d like more in depth information about it. To summarise, a Trigger Point or hyper irritable spot within a taut band of muscle can refer pain around the area where it’s located or refer pain, in a predictable pattern, somewhere else in the body.
There’s a number of muscles in the hip and pelvis area that can cause pain radiating down the leg. It’s good news when this is the case, since it’s a less serious presentation than a problem in the spine. Its prognosis is really good when approached with the right type of soft tissue therapy and ideally exercise rehabilitation.
We covered the concept “trigger point” in previous posts. Go check it out if you’d like more in depth information about it. To summarise, a Trigger Point or hyper irritable spot within a taut band of muscle can refer pain around the area where it’s located or refer pain, in a predictable pattern, somewhere else in the body.
There’s a number of muscles in the hip and pelvis area that can cause pain radiating down the leg. It’s good news when this is the case, since it’s a less serious presentation than a problem in the spine. Its prognosis is really good when approached with the right type of soft tissue therapy and ideally exercise rehabilitation.
Here’s a list of three hip and pelvis muscles that cause pain down the leg with pictures of the Trigger Point referral pain pattern (please note that these pain patterns might not happen in their fullest presentation, meaning that the pain might only be felt in some of the areas marked in red):
- Gluteus minimus:
Referring pain in two patterns depending on were the Trigger points are located within the muscle. Felt laterally almost at the front or posteriorly.
Pain radiating from this muscle can be felt all the way into the foot (not shown on the image).
2. Gluteus medius:
In this case the pain radiates to the gluteal area, sacrum and it can travel down to the top of the leg at the back.
3. Psoas:
In this case the pain down the leg travels through the front of the leg. Also felt at the lower back and front in the lower abdominal area (not illustrated in this image).
The pain caused by Trigger points can be very similar to nerve pain, it can be alarming and it can create a lot of trouble.
After an assessment and consultation the therapist will identify the problem area or/and the problem pattern and begin the treatment plan, that will defer in different people.