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Sciatica, Sports Medicine

Dhiren J. Naidu, MD, FRCPC, Dip. Sport Med. Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

  • Sciatica is referred to in the medical literature as lumbosacral radicular syndrome, radiculopathy, or nerve root pain.

  • The classic description of sciatica or radiculopathy is compromise of a sp...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Determine mechanism of injury.

  • Onset of pain can be variable from immediate (acute) or over days (subacute).

  • Pain is described as sharp, “electrical,” burning, or as a numbness or tingl...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • 6 wk of conservative management should be tried before obtaining imaging or invasive procedures, unless red flags are present or develop 3.

  • Acute low back pain: Avoid inactivi...

ONGOING CARE

PATIENT EDUCATION

  • Weight loss is beneficial.

  • Aerobic exercise and core stability are the mainstays of an exercise-based treatment approach.

  • Stay active 4.

  • Avoid long-term pain medication.

  • Stop...

REFERENCES

1
Kennedy D, Noh M. The role of core stabilization in lumbosacral radiculopathy. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am.  2011;22(1):91–103.
2
Konstantinou K, Dunn KM. Sciatica: review of epidemiolog...

ADDITIONAL READING

Kreiner DS, Hwang SW, Easa JE, et al. An evidence-based clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy. Spine J.  2014;14(1):18...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Sciatica is referred to as a lumbar radiculopathy and occurs from impingement on a nerve root, usually from a disc herniation.

  • Obtaining a history focusing on the red flags is of prime ...

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