Around 18 months ago I started exhibiting signs of sciatic nerve pain.  Which is to say it became difficult to walk because it felt like someone had taken a wiffle ball bat and beat the backs of me legs with said bat.

That isn’t a picture of my butt.  I wish it were a picture of my butt, because unfortunately my butt continues to flatten as I get older.  I am not happy about it.  Regardless.  The reason I am showing you this unknown guy, who we now know is not me, and his butt is to show you where the sciatic nerve is located.  Around your hip joint.  And if this guy would have been smart, when he started having problems, I should have taken some time off instead of trying to work through it.  But I was “Mr. Team-guy”, and look where it got me.

Moving on.

I started this whole bunch of words to talk about planking.

Yeah.  That isn’t me either.  Anyhoooooo….Planking is just exactly what it looks like.  Holding your body in a modified push-up position, tightening up your abs and your butt and staying in the position for as long as you can.  Planking is known as a “Core” exercise.  In other words it strengthens you core muscles.

Even that little bastard Christmas Elf gets into the action.

When I finally got around to going to physical therapy for my sciatica they gave me had me doing a bunch of exercises.

The modified push-up was the one that they made me do the most of.  Lately I have been having some moderate sciatic twinges, so I have had to start doing that push up and just for shits and giggles have added planking into the mix.

And no, regardless of what The Walker says….that isn’t me in the bread aisle.

Now, if it this guy were closer to the bagels I might have to take a second look to verify where or not it was me….

Anyhooters….the point of all of this is just this, and this alone…though why it took me over 350 words to get around to it, I really don’t know…other than I do like to listen to my own voice.  Even when it is just in my head.

THE POINT!!!!!  If you haven’t tried planking, you should.  If you have any sciatic problems, you should include this into your exercise regime.  It is working for this old guy, and I bet it would work for you.

There.  Done.  Finished.  And now there are over 400 words.