Can Vibration Plates Help Relieve Sciatica Pain?

June 17, 2024

by Jackie Wicks

Medically reviewed by: Dr. Ronald Mochizuki, MD

Sciatica is a common condition in which the sciatica nerve, which runs from the pelvis down each leg, becomes pinched. The nerve compression can cause pain, tingling, and numbness down to the toes.

In many cases, symptoms can resolve on their own, but whole-body vibrations, which stimulate the muscles, may also help remedy sciatica symptoms. That said, are vibration plates good for sciatica?

This guide will dive into the potential benefits of using vibration plates to help alleviate sciatica symptoms and how to optimize your results.

Understanding Sciatica

The sciatic nerve serves both motor and sensory functions. Accordingly, it controls the muscles around the knee and the back of the lower leg to help you move around, while also providing sensation to your legs and feet.

Sciatica occurs when that sciatic nerve is compressed or injured. This pressure is often caused by:

Herniated disk
Bone spurs (bone overgrowth)
Pelvis fracture or injury
Tumors
Spinal stenosis
Piriformis syndrome (a condition that causes pain in the glutes)
Pregnancy

When the sciatic nerve is pinched, it causes inflammation of the nerve and pain that travels down the legs and feet. Additionally, there are a myriad of symptoms and complications that can arise if the problem persists.

Symptoms of Sciatica

Sciatica typically only affects one side of the body, but the severity of symptoms may vary.

Sciatica sufferers may experience:

Pain – Pressure on the sciatic nerve causes pain ranging in intensity from a dull ache to a burning sensation, like an electric shock. Sciatic pain may manifest from typical bodily functions like standing, sitting, laughing, coughing, sneezing, bending backward, and bowel strain.
Numbness – Damage to the sciatic nerve may cause the loss of sensation in some areas of the legs and feet. If left untreated, numbness may persist and, in severe cases, become permanent.
Tingling – Also known as pins-and-needles, sciatica may cause a tingling sensation similar to your foot falling asleep.
Muscle weakness – Because the sciatic nerve controls motor functions the damaged nerve can affect the movement of the legs in more severe cases. Sciatica sufferers may also experience muscle weakness and difficulty walking.
Loss of bowel function – Very severe cases may lead to difficulty controlling the bladder and bowel movements. In instances like these, medical care is highly recommended.

No matter the severity, sciatica can have a debilitating effect on daily life. With symptoms that range from mild discomfort to unbearable aches, sciatica can restrict the ability to carry out tasks like going to work, preparing meals, pursuing hobbies, and exercising regularly.

Vibration Plate Sciatica Relief

To provide relief for sciatic nerve pain, it’s beneficial to reduce some of the pressure against that nerve and loosen the tense muscles.

Vibration plates are low impact exercise equipment intended to enhance fitness routines and can alleviate general sciatic pain by emitting vibrations throughout the body, stimulating the muscles’ natural reflexes. This process may help promote the recovery of targeted muscles to decrease discomfort.

In addition to stimulating the muscles, vibration plates also increase blood circulation, which can help increase blood flow to replenish and relax tense muscles.

To understand how a vibration plate for sciatica might help, let’s explore the science behind these machines.

The Science Behind Vibration Techniques

Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a method of sending vibrations at varying frequencies through the body which force muscles to rapidly contract and release. The intention is to mimic the body’s response to physical exertion.

Research shows that whole-body vibration can have similar effects to exercise and, in combination with dynamic movements, can improve muscle strength, bone strength, and stability.

That being said, can a vibration plate help sciatica?

Scientific studies are unsure to what extent WBV can remedy this painful condition. One finding shows that whole-body vibration might actually increase the risk of developing sciatica.

However, another study tested the effects of vibration on nerve damage and found evidence that vibrations can aid the recovery of nerve function. Medical studies also show that whole-body vibration can redevelop muscle, restore motion to the joints, and increase circulation, which suggests that WBV may be beneficial for alleviating sciatica pain.

More research needs to be done to provide an accurate answer. For now, it’s believed that WBV can help you feel better by increasing muscle movements and blood flow, thereby potentially alleviating discomfort.

As always, it is important to listen to your body and its response to WBV. Discontinue or modify any motion or exercise that worsen symptoms.

Vibration Plate Exercises for Sciatica

Vibration plate sciatica exercises provide maximum benefits when used in combination with dynamic movements. To that end, here are a few workouts that may help alleviate sciatica pain.

1. Lower Back Stretch

This first exercise targets one of the main causes of sciatica by stretching the lower back, removing some of the pressure from the spine. Here’s how to do it:

Place a chair in front of your vibration plate.
Sit with an upright posture and your feet placed flat on the vibrating platform.
Place your hands on your hips with your thumbs pressed on either side of the spine.
Tilt your hips forward while leaning back, so your chest and stomach push upward toward the ceiling. This should create a deep stretch in the lower back.
Hold this pose for 30 seconds, then release.

This stretch is particularly beneficial for general pain relief, but some exercises target one-sided care.

2. Lateral Lean

This particular vibration plate exercise can help to relieve sciatica pain by targeting one side of the body. Here’s how to do it:

Place a chair in front of your vibration plate.
Seated in the chair, keep one leg placed flat on the floor and extend one leg over the vibration plate with your toes pointed toward the ceiling.
Place one hand on your hip and bend your other arm over your head.
Lean towards the painful side of your hip. Hold this position for 30 seconds.

Repeat this stretch 3 to 5 times, and alternate sides as needed.

3. Glutes Stretch

This exercise stretches the piriformis muscle along the buttocks, targeting one of the primary causes of sciatica. Here’s how to do it:

Place a chair in front of the vibration machine and sit on the edge, maintaining proper posture.
Extend one leg over the vibration plate and cross the other over the extended leg.
Keeping your back straight, lean forward at the hips. You should feel a deep stretch at the lower back, glutes, and hips.
Hold this position for 30 seconds, then release. Repeat 3 to 5 times, switching legs wherever the pain is present.

As you stretch with your vibration plate, keep these key tips in mind:

Choose the right frequency – Adjust the vibration frequency to around 30 to 35 Hz. This is considered the sweet spot for muscle improvement.

Maintain good posture – Always maintain good posture for maximum benefits.

Repeat – Repeat these stretches daily as necessary.

Additionally, if you feel pain or numbness at any point while performing these stretches, stop and consult with a medical professional.

Choosing the Right Vibration Plate For You

A vibration plate can help enhance movement and alleviate pain. To find the product that best fits your fitness and recovery goals, it’s important to consider factors like vibration type, intensity, size, and construction.

Vibration Type and Intensity

There are three general types of vibration: pivotal, linear, and tri-planar. With each type, the vibration platform moves differently:

Pivotal plates – These types of vibration plates oscillate like a see-saw, so they’re ideal for low-impact workouts that are gentle on injuries. However, the movement of this vibration platform limits your ability to perform stretches that may relieve sciatica pain.

Linear plates – Linear plates are higher intensity than pivotal plates, but they remain horizontal as they vibrate up and down. The intensity of linear plates is adjustable and may be more beneficial for aiding nerve pain. These platforms are also compatible with stretching exercises.

Tri-planar plates – Tri-planar platforms vibrate across three different planes: up and down, back and forth, and side to side. Because of this, these plates tend to be more precise and can target deeper muscle tissue. However, these are also a more expensive option.

All that said, linear and tri-planar plates may be more advantageous in easing sciatica symptoms due to their desirable frequency options and compatibility with dynamic stretches.

Construction

Here are additional features to consider as you plan your vibration plate exercises:

Size – Vibration plates range in size based on need and spatial availability. It may be convenient to choose a machine that’s small and compact, allowing you to tuck it away after use.
Handlebars – Some vibration plates may include an attached column with handlebars. The handles offer enhanced stability but require larger spaces because of their size.

These features can further enrich your whole-body vibration experience.

Integrating Vibration Plates To Ease Sciatica Symptoms

Sciatica is a painful condition that occurs when the sciatic nerve is pinched, causing intense symptoms like pain, numbness, and muscle weakness that can affect daily life. Whole-body vibrations are one technique that can stimulate blood circulation to potentially relieve sciatica symptoms.

With Power Plate, you can integrate medical-grade vibration plates into your regime from the comfort of home. We offer a variety of vibration plates to meet your needs with compact sizing for convenience, as well as adjustable frequencies and intensities.

Move better with Power Plate.

Sources:

Cleveland Clinic. Sciatica. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12792-sciatica

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. Whole-body vibration and the risk of low back pain and sciatica: a systematic review and meta-analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25142739/

National Library of Medicine. Exercise-induced blood flow in relation to muscle relaxation period. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1878472/

Journal of Integrative Medicine. Local vibration therapy promotes the recovery of nerve function in rats with sciatic nerve injury. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095496422000103#b0130

National Library of Medicine. The effects of two different frequencies of whole-body vibration on knee extensors strength in healthy young volunteers: a randomized trial. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5628593/

National Library of Medicine. Whole body vibration therapy and cognitive functions: a systematic review. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10323263/

Penn Medicine. Sciatica. https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/sciatica

Power Plate. The Science Behind Power Plate. https://powerplate.com/pages/science