When you stretch your hamstrings, do you feel an intense pulling sensation in your calves? Or maybe a buzzing or tingling sensation through the back of your legs? Or even some lower back pain?
Oftentimes when we are trying to stretch our hamstrings, we are actually putting some tension through the sciatic nerve! This blog post dives into the difference between muscle and nerve mobility in the back of your legs, so you can stretch smarter and move better! If you’re in the Newton Wellesley area of Massachusetts and struggling with persistent tightness in your legs, this blog is for you!
Anatomy of the Hamstrings, Calves, and Sciatic Nerve
Hamstrings:
The hamstrings are a group of three muscles in the back of your thigh. They run from your sit bones to the top of your calf. They perform the primary actions of bringing your leg behind you and bending your knee. The hamstrings are primarily innervated by branches of the sciatic nerve.
Calves:
Your calf muscles, gastrocnemius and soleus, are two muscles in the back of your calf. Gastrocnemius starts from the bottom of your thigh, while soleus starts from the top of your calf. Both muscles form together, becoming your Achilles tendon, and then attach on the back of your heel. They perform the actions of lifting your heels off the ground and pointing your foot. Both muscles are innervated by the tibial nerve, which is a branch of the sciatic nerve.
Sciatic Nerve:
The sciatic nerve is a thick nerve bundle that originates from your lower back and pelvis. It runs along the back of your hip, down the back of your thigh, down the back of your calf, and into the foot. The sciatic nerve splits into multiple branches as it moves along this route.
Sciatica or Hamstring Tightness?
The hamstring and calf muscles are located in the same area in which the sciatic nerve runs through. This can cause some confusion on whether the tightness you feel in the back of your legs is muscular or nerve-related. Because of its long pathway, the sciatic nerve can be affected anywhere from the spine to the lower leg, which is why sciatic nerve tension may mimic muscle tightness in these areas. It’s important to know the difference so you can apply the correct treatments.
How to distinguish between sciatic nerve tension and hamstring tightness?
There are many PT assessments that can be done to tell the difference between muscle tightness and sciatic nerve tension. During your evaluation, we will look at muscle length for your hamstrings, muscle length for your calves, and neural mobility for your sciatic nerve. Based on these findings, we will apply the appropriate treatments for muscle or nerve limitations.
Ready to find the true cause of your flexibility issues?
Schedule a full-body evaluation with us at BEYOND Physical Therapy in Newton, MA.
Sources:
https://www.physio-pedia.com/Hamstrings
https://www.physio-pedia.com/Gastrocnemius
https://www.physio-pedia.com/Soleus
https://www.physio-pedia.com/Sciatic_Nerve