Mary Franz - Mar 14th, 2011
Sciatica is a lower back condition commonly treated by chiropractors that is caused by the compression of nerves connected to the sciatic nerves that run down the back of the legs. This compression produces a shooting pain down one or both legs. The condition can be debilitating. Some of the causes of sciatica are chronic, such as disc degeneration, and others can be acute, as in an injury. Sciatica may even be brought on by pregnancy and labor.
A recent study set out to determine the risk factors for developing sciatica. Potential risk factors studied included occupational class, physical and psychosocial working conditions, health behaviors and previous low back and neck pain. The participants were middle-aged municipal employees without previous sciatica aged 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60 at the beginning of the study with a total of 5261 participants, 80 percent of whom were women.
Data was collected on occupational class, physical and psychosocial working conditions, body mass index, smoking, leisure-time physical activity and history of neck and back pain during 2000-2002. A follow-up survey was completed in 2007.
For women, the researchers determined that the following were risk factors: manual occupational class, overweight, obesity, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, and previous neck or back pain. Men employed in semi-professional as well as manual occupational class were at highest risk for sciatica. Previous low back pain was also a predictor for the men.
Researchers concluded that while occupational class, unhealthy behavior and history of neck and back pain predicted the development of sciatica and thus are potential risk factors, physical and psychosocial working conditions were not predictors of sciatica. A chiropractor can assess your risk factors for developing sciatica as well as relieve symptoms for current sciatica patients.
Kaaria S, Leino-Arjas P, Rahkonen O, Lahti J, Lahelma E, Laaksonen M. Risk factors of sciatic pain: A prospective study among middle-aged employees. European Journal of Pain. 2010 Dec 14.
[rss]