Posture expert Esther Gokhale traveled around the world, studying cultures where there is almost zero incidence of lower back pain and sciatica.  Why, for instance, does lower back pain affect 80% of the U.S. population, but only 5% of the population in parts of Africa?

While not many Africans are getting stuck in rush-hour traffic, flying in airplanes, or sitting at a desk all day, the answer may be more obvious:
Africans tend to have better posture than Americans.

"The less industrial a country, the more more likely your are to find people with correct posture and movement." says Gokhale.

Gokhale claims that all babies naturally use good posture, but in most industrial societies, we tend to develop bad habits.

Learning more about how to hold and move your body takes "re-learning" what is already genetically imprinted in our genes...which makes it a fairly easy thing to do, IF...and it's a big "if"...you have a good teacher.

A simple, first step is to focus on simple changes, such as sitting with your tail bone out, as opposed to tucking the pelvis in.

Then move on to specific sciatica exercises to address your condition.

Some of those basic movements can be found here.

Look for Gokhale's book, Eight Steps to a Pain Free Back, which is supposed to be in bookstores by spring of 2008.

Source:  Mountain View Voice

Here are 7 reasons why sciatica exercises are better than drugs in getting your life back:

   1. No drug side effects.

Several years ago, Vioxx was one of the most-prescribed drugs for people with sciatica pain.  And then Years later, Vioxx was banned by the FDA for causing heart problems in a high percentage of patients. Yikes!

   2. You get physically fit.

Improving your fitness level and/or dropping a few pounds puts less stress
on the inflammation causing your sciatica pain.

   3. You can do the sciatica exercises today.

You don't have to wait to see the doctor or chiropractor or massage therapist. All you need is yourself and a reasonably comfortable floor.

   4. Natural, long-term solution.

Once you realize how much sciatica exercises help, you'll want to keep doing them to maintain your good health.

   5. You'll be more relaxed.

Sciatica exercises are down slooowly and cautiously. As your health improves, you can increase the vigor...but in the beginning, it's all about taking it easy.

   6. You get more out of other complementary treatments.

Whether you're going to the chiropractor, massage therapist, or traditional doctors, sciatica exercises will help your other treatments become more effective.

   7. It's cheap.

You don't need a gym membership or any equipment. All you need is to know exactly what exercises to do.

On that last note, make sure that you don't attempt these without proper instruction. Otherwise, you might injure yourself and set yourself back.

So find yourself a good guide, and get started on your sciatica exercises today!

Here's a great guide:

Sciatica Exercises Guidebook

I see sciatica waiting to happen everywhere I look.

Americans have terrible posture.  Turns out, your aunt Betty was right when she told you stand up straight.  She wasn't just nagging you...she was looking out for your future.

Bad posture stresses your back, creating extra strain on your discs.  The lumbar curve - the lower curve in your back - should be there, always.

Most people don't sit with a lumbar curve because it takes effort.  Abdominal muscles, lower back muscles, and hip flexors all work in unison to keep a lumbar curve in place.

Once a severe sciatica episode comes on, it's almost impossible to sit upright at all for any length of time.  Only rest and basic exercises can really help in a full-fledged flare-up. 

But most people who have been dealing with sciatica for any length of time know that there are inevitable warning signs...a little tightness, or perhaps a twinge of pain running down the sciatica nerve.

When that happens TAKE HEED and precautionary measures. 

One of those measures should be reviewing the fundamentals of back health:  hydration, rest, nutrition, exercise, and posture.

Fundamental to posture is keeping a strong lumbar curve.

Remember the techniques for proper walking, sleeping, and above all, sitting.

If you don't know the proper, back-healthy techniques for these positions, learn them.

Life's too short to live with debilitating sciatica.