Neural flossing exercises, also known as nerve gliding or neural mobilization, are techniques designed to improve the mobility and function of nerves. In this case, specifically the sciatic nerve.
How to perform neural flossing exercises
Lie on your back and hold one leg up. Then, straighten your leg and lift your head up. Next, lift your head up further as you bend the knee at the same time. Your head follows your foot as you turn the tension on and off. However, do not force it, stay relaxed.
What are neural flossing exercises?
Neural flossing exercises involve gentle movements that stretch and mobilize the nerves. They help to reduce pain and improve flexibility. They are often used to treat conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica, and other nerve entrapments. The aim is to relieve tension, reduce inflammation, and enhance neural function by allowing the nerves to move more freely through their surrounding tissues.
Areas stretched
The neural flossing exercise primarly stretches and mobilzes the sciatic nerve very gentle. You are likely to feel a stretch in the hamstrings, or along the path of the sciatic nerve in general.
The sciatic nerve
The sciatic nerve is the longest and widest nerve in the human body. It starts in the lower back and runs through the buttocks, down the legs, ending just below the knee. This nerve controls the muscles of the lower leg and provides sensation to the thighs, legs, and feet. Sciatica, a condition characterized by pain along the sciatic nerve pathway, can result from nerve compression or irritation, often due to a herniated disk or spinal stenosis.
Related injuries
This exercise forms part of rehabilitation for the following injuries:
