Most people of a certain age will say they’ve experienced back pain, it’s so common with 8 out of 10 Americans dealing with it.
Sciatica is also a common pain issue which is caused by problems with the sciatic nerve, a large nerve that runs from the lower back down the back of each leg.
When we do experience back pain most of us reach for over-the-counter drugs or heat pads but health professionals say it’s important to deal with the underlying problem.
Now a simple trick with a tennis ball is providing relief to those back pain sufferers — and it’s something you can do in the comfort of your own home.
Experts say lower back pain is often caused by physical inactivity, obesity and poor posture.
Ice to cool the affected area is one way of easing the pain as well as acupuncture and chiropractic treatments.
For sciatic nerve streching exercises like those done in a yoga class can be of huge benefit.
See some examples in the video below.
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Often the pain goes away by itself but you can help to ease this pain a lot faster with a tennis ball and some simple exercises.
By putting a tennis ball in the affected area and then putting pressure on it, muscle tension is greatly relieved and sore muscles are soothed.
If you are treating sciatic pain, the ball will target the piriformis muscle which is located really close to the sciatic nerve, according to Healthy.Shared.
Target sore spots
When you first do this, the pain might be intense but that’s a sign you need to apply the pressure, so breathe through it and you will get great results.
Press that particular spot against the ball for 30-60 seconds. Target another sore spot. You should do this exercise for 5-10 minutes.
See an expert in action in the clip below.
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Experts also advise to be aware of your posture and don’t sit for longer than an hour.
Please share this very important advice with your friends and family, they’ll thank you for it.
