Rowing with Sciatica – Gentle Movement for the Back

Lumbago, also known as lumbago, mainly affects the lower back, i.e. the lumbar spine. The causes are usually sudden muscle tension, blockages of small vertebral joints, disc damage or overloading of the back structures. The pain typically occurs very suddenly and severely – those affected often report a sharp, stabbing pain that shoots in without warning. As a rule, the pain remains limited to the lower back and does not or only rarely radiate into the leg. Movements such as bending over or straightening up are often painful and severely restricted, which often literally “paralyzes” those affected.

In contrast, sciatica, medically known as ischialgia or radiculopathy, affects the sciatic nerve. This large nerve originates from the lumbar spine and runs over the buttocks down into the leg and foot. Common causes of sciatica are herniated discs, piriformis syndrome, irritation of the nerve or inflammatory processes. The pain characteristically radiates from the lower back over the buttocks down into the leg and sometimes even into the feet. Accompanying symptoms such as numbness, tingling, paraesthesia or weakness in the affected leg are also typical.

Although lumbago and sciatica have different causes, they can be related. Acute lumbago can indirectly irritate the sciatic nerve due to muscle tension or disc problems and thus additionally trigger sciatica symptoms. In such cases, doctors speak of a so-called lumboischialgia syndrome, in which elements of both clinical pictures – i.e. lumbago and ischialgia – mix with each other.