Therapeutic exercise
Supine Sciatic Nerve Glide
Sciatic-nerve mobilization with the leg elevated, useful for radiculopathy when sitting in a chair is uncomfortable. Performed without overtensioning the nerve root.
How to perform
- Starting position. Lie on your back and raise the symptomatic leg with the knee slightly bent, holding the thigh with both hands.
- Step 2. Straighten the knee and dorsiflex the ankle (foot toward your face) while flexing your neck.
- Step 3. Bend the knee and plantarflex the ankle while extending your neck.
- Return. Move in an oscillatory pattern, without forcing.
When not to perform
- Intense pain when raising the leg under 30°
- Progressive motor deficit
Medical disclaimer. These exercises are presented for informational purposes only. Always consult your physician before starting any exercise program, especially in case of acute pain, recent injury, or underlying clinical condition.
Related Exercises
Supine Hamstring Stretch
Stretches the hamstrings without lumbar overload. A key exercise for chronic low back pain — shortened hamstrings increase pelvic flexion and disc loading.
Sciatic Nerve Glide
Neurodynamic mobilization of the sciatic nerve without excessive traction. Reduces neural mechanosensitivity and relieves radiating symptoms in subacute sciatica.
Lumbar Neural Flossing
Alternating tension-relaxation mobilization of the sciatic nerve. Reduces mechanosensitivity of the nerve root without overloading the neural tissue — indicated in subacute radiculopathy.