Sciatic Nerve Trigger Points

Do they exist?

The answer is both yes and no. Here’s why:

There are many potential trigger points in the feet that could cause referred pain to the sciatic nerve. However, there hasn’t been a lot of scientific research to support the existence of these trigger points.

That being said, many people (including myself) have found relief from foot trigger point release. So while the jury is still out on whether or not these points exist, I believe they are worth exploring if you are experiencing sciatic nerve pain.

There are two main areas in the feet that seem to be associated with sciatic nerve pain: the heel and the ball of the foot. Let’s take a closer look at each of these areas.

Heel Trigger Points:

As you can see in the image above, there are two potential trigger points in the heel that could refer pain to the sciatic nerve. The first is located just behind the ball of the foot, and the second is located on the inside edge of the heel.

To release these points, you can use a lacrosse ball or tennis ball. Place the ball under your foot and roll it around until you find a tender spot. Once you find a tender spot, apply pressure and hold for 30-60 seconds. You may need to experiment with different amounts of pressure to find what feels best for you.

Glute Pain Trigger Points

There are two potential trigger points in the glutes that could refer pain to the sciatic nerve. The first is located on the top of the glute, and the second is located on the side of the glute.

To release these points, you can use a lacrosse ball or tennis ball. Place the ball under your butt and roll it around until you find a tender spot. Once you find a tender spot, apply pressure and hold for 30-60 seconds. You may need to experiment with different amounts of pressure to find what feels best for you.

Plantar Fasciitis Trigger Points

There are two potential trigger points in the plantar fascia that could refer pain to the sciatic nerve. The first is located on the inside edge of the heel, and the second is located on the bottom of the foot.

To release these points, you can use a lacrosse ball or tennis ball. Place the ball under your foot and roll it around until you find a tender spot. Once you find a tender spot, apply pressure and hold for 30-60 seconds. You may need to experiment with different amounts of pressure to find what feels best for you.

While there is no scientific evidence to support the existence of trigger points in the feet that refer pain to the sciatic nerve, many people have found relief from foot trigger point release. If you are experiencing sciatic nerve pain, I encourage you to try releasing these trigger points

Ball Of Foot Trigger Points:

There are also two potential trigger points in the ball of the foot that could refer pain to the sciatic nerve. The first is located just behind the big toe, and the second is located under the ball of the foot.

To release these points, you can use a lacrosse ball or tennis ball. Place the ball under your foot and roll it around until you find a tender spot. Once you find a tender spot, apply pressure and hold for 30-60 seconds. You may need to experiment with different amounts of pressure to find what feels best for you.

While there is still some debate as to whether or not foot trigger points exist, I believe they are worth exploring if you are experiencing sciatic nerve pain. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me. I’m always happy to help in any way I can.

Best of luck on your journey to recovery!