Femoral Nerve Radiculopathy Early Exercise Programme
Aim to perform this programme a minimum of once per day unless prescribed otherwise. As with any new exercise, start slowly (repetitions as able) and build up as you are able within the guidelines below.
Pain should not exceed 3/10 whilst completing this exercise programme.
1. Forward bending in standing
- Start standing upright.
- Place your hands on your thighs.
- Take a breath in.
- As you exhale slide your hands down your legs allowing your back to bend as you do.
- Go down as far as you feel comfortable and then slowly return to standing.
2. Knee hugs in lying
- Lie on your back.
- Place your hands either on top of your knees or behind your knees.
- Pull your knees towards your head.
- Allow the lower back to rise slightly off the floor creating a slight bend.
- Hold for a few seconds at the top, lower and repeat.
3. Pelvic tilts
- Lie on your back on the floor or bed with your knees bent at 90 degrees and your feet on the floor and your arms down by your side.
- Try and engage your stomach muscles to flatten your lower back against the floor/bed.
- Next try and arch your lower back as if you were going to try and place your hand in the small of your back.
- Repeat this moving constantly between a flat back and an arch back in a slow and continuous motion.
We recommend consulting a musculoskeletal physiotherapist to ensure exercises are best suited to your recovery. If you are carrying out an exercise regime without consulting a healthcare professional, you do so at your own risk. If you have any concerns whilst completing these exercises, please contact a healthcare professional.
More Plans
At this stage, the exercises progress to ensuring that there is no tightness in the nerve itself and then on strengthening the muscles around the lower back and pelvis region. This should not exceed any more than 3/10 on your perceived pain scale.
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This moves on from the intermediate exercises with more progressive and challenging exercises, particularly in strength. The exercises also move towards more functional positions to help ensure a return to normal daily activities. This should not exceed any more than 3/10 on your perceived pain scale.
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