Intermittent claudication and sciatics are leg pains having many causes such as disc herniation and spinal stenosis. Johnson Chiropractic’s chiropractic care offers a solid treatment plan to ease your leg pain, but we’ll also discuss the important role of exercise to relieve and control your leg pain. We’re a team with the same goal: pain relief and prevention!

Sciatica – Leg Pain Due to Disc Herniation

Johnson Chiropractic knows you won’t believe it, but exercising when you hurt helps. It really does! In patients with leg pain due to a disc herniation, researchers find that patients who exercise get better strength and flexibility and report less pain. (1) Really!

Now, one study introduces isometric exercise – exercising against resistance - at day 14 after the leg pain outbreak. (1) Don’t be surprised if Johnson Chiropractic gets you started sooner with exercise. This passes some of the control to you. (Certainly, don’t do any exercise until we talk!) But you can help yourself, and we want you to do that. Johnson Chiropractic is here as your partner in healing as well as prevention of future back pain as well as related leg pain. It’s your body and back ultimately!

Intermittent Claudication – Leg Pain Due to Peripheral Artery Disease or Spinal Stenosis 

Intermittent claudication cramps not just your legs, but also your Richmond lifestyle! To improve walking, walking is recommended. We know, it’s obvious, but it works. But resistance training and weight lifting may also help improve walking. (2) The intent of these exercise options is the same: get the blood flowing!

Oh how often we hear that at Johnson Chiropractic! We understand and empathize. However, we have a suggestion, a research-based suggestion no less! If you are in too much pain, consider exercising in the water. Researchers note that water exercise is less stressful on muscles. Not too surprising, but they documented it! So start with aquatic back exercises and move to land as you feel less pain and strengthen your muscles. (3) Check out the Richmond pools near you. You’ll be glad you did!

Review these reference articles about the benefits of exercise for leg pain relief. Chat with Johnson Chiropractic about the exercises appropriate for you, then try some water-based exercise and build up to doing them on land or the exercise ball.

We look forward to your progress with Richmond's chiropractic treatment and exercise!