Sciatica

Sciatica is a common condition that causes pain to travel from the lower back or buttock down the back of the leg, sometimes all the way to the foot. It happens when the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body, or one of the nerve roots that form it becomes irritated or compressed. Sciatic nerve pain can range from a mild ache to a sharp, burning or electric pain that makes it hard to sit, walk, work or sleep.

At Allied Physiotherapy, our physiotherapists assess your back, hips, posture and movement to find out what is irritating the nerve. Once we know the cause, we build a treatment plan to ease your pain, restore your mobility and help prevent sciatica from coming back.

Sciatica Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is one of the most effective conservative treatments for sciatica, and most people improve without needing injections or surgery. Our physiotherapists take a hands-on, active approach. We calm the irritated nerve first, then address the stiffness, weakness and movement habits that put pressure on it.

Depending on your assessment, treatment may include manual therapy, nerve mobilization (nerve flossing), targeted stretching and strengthening exercises, core stability training, spinal decompression therapy and education on positions that ease your symptoms. Some patients also benefit from IMS (intramuscular stimulation), massage therapy or kinesiology as part of their care.

Physiotherapy can be especially helpful if your sciatica is linked to a disc injury, prolonged sitting, a lifting injury, pregnancy, a motor vehicle accident or tight muscles around the hip and buttock.

Common Causes of Sciatica

Sciatica is a symptom rather than a diagnosis. It has many possible causes. Some of the most common include:

• Herniated or Bulging Disc: A disc in the lower back can bulge or herniate and press on a nearby nerve root. This is the most common cause of sciatica.
• Degenerative Disc Changes: Age-related wear of the spinal discs can reduce the space around the nerves and contribute to irritation.
• Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal canal or the openings where nerves exit the spine can compress the nerve roots, especially in adults over 50.
• Piriformis Syndrome: Tightness or spasm of the piriformis muscle deep in the buttock can irritate the sciatic nerve as it passes nearby.
• Spondylolisthesis: When one vertebra slips forward over another, it can narrow the space for the nerves.
• Prolonged Sitting & Poor Posture: Long hours at a desk or in a car increase pressure on the lower back discs and can aggravate sciatic symptoms.
• Lifting & Bending Injuries: Lifting something heavy or twisting awkwardly can strain the lower back and trigger a flare-up.
• Pregnancy: Postural changes, weight gain and pressure on the pelvis can cause sciatica-like pain during pregnancy.
• Motor Vehicle Accidents (ICBC) & Falls: Trauma to the lower back or pelvis can injure the discs, joints or muscles surrounding the nerve.
• Weak Core & Hip Muscles: Reduced strength and stability around the spine and pelvis can increase stress on the lower back.

Sciatica Symptoms

Sciatica usually affects one side of the body. Symptoms can vary depending on which nerve root is involved and how irritated it is. You may experience:

• Radiating Leg Pain: Pain that travels from the lower back or buttock down the back of the thigh and calf, sometimes into the foot.
• Sharp, Burning or Electric Pain: Many people describe sciatic nerve pain as shooting, burning or like an electric shock.
• Buttock Pain: A deep ache in the buttock, often on one side, that may worsen with sitting.
• Numbness or Tingling: Pins and needles or numbness in the leg, foot or toes.
• Leg or Foot Weakness: Difficulty lifting the foot, standing on your toes or a feeling that the leg may give way.
• Pain That Worsens With Sitting: Symptoms often increase after sitting for long periods, driving or standing up from a chair.
• Pain With Coughing or Sneezing: Coughing, sneezing or straining can briefly increase leg pain when a disc is involved.
• Lower Back Pain & Stiffness: Sciatica may come with back pain, though for some people the leg pain is worse than the back pain.
• Difficulty Sleeping: Finding a comfortable position at night can be difficult during a flare-up.

When Should I See a Physiotherapist?

Our physiotherapists can help if you are experiencing:

• Pain that radiates from your lower back or buttock into your leg
• Sciatica that has lasted more than a few days or keeps coming back
• Numbness, tingling or pins and needles in your leg or foot
• Pain that makes it hard to sit, drive, work, exercise or sleep
• Sciatica that started after a lift, fall, sports injury or motor vehicle accident (ICBC)
• Sciatica related to a workplace injury (WorkSafeBC)
• Sciatica during or after pregnancy
• Symptoms that have not improved with rest or medication
• A wish to avoid injections or surgery where possible, or to prepare for or recover from back surgery

Important: Seek emergency medical care right away if you have sciatica together with loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs (saddle area), weakness in both legs or rapidly worsening leg weakness. These can be signs of a serious condition that needs urgent medical attention.

How Physiotherapy Helps Sciatica

Our physiotherapists use evidence-based treatments tailored to the cause of your sciatica and your goals:

• Comprehensive Assessment: We assess your spine, hips, nerve function, strength, reflexes, flexibility and movement patterns to find the source of your symptoms.
• Pain Relief Strategies: We show you positions, movements and activity changes that reduce pressure on the nerve and calm your symptoms.
• Manual Therapy: Hands-on joint mobilization and soft tissue techniques can reduce stiffness and muscle tension in the lower back, hips and buttocks.
• Nerve Mobilization: Gentle nerve gliding exercises help the sciatic nerve move more freely and can reduce sensitivity.
• Spinal Decompression: Where appropriate, spinal decompression therapy gently unloads the spine to reduce pressure on irritated discs and nerve roots.
• Core & Hip Strengthening: Targeted exercises build stability around your spine and pelvis to support recovery and reduce strain.
• Stretching & Mobility: Improving flexibility in the hips, hamstrings and lower back can ease nerve irritation, particularly with piriformis-related pain.
• IMS & Dry Needling: Our trained practitioners may use IMS (intramuscular stimulation) to release tight, shortened muscles that compress or irritate the nerve.
• Posture & Ergonomic Guidance: We give practical advice for your workstation, driving position, lifting technique and sleeping position.
• Home Exercise Program: A personalized program helps you keep progressing between appointments and manage future flare-ups with confidence.

Preventing Sciatica Flare-Ups

Not every case of sciatica can be prevented, but these strategies can lower your risk and help keep symptoms from coming back:

• Move regularly: Avoid sitting for long periods. Get up, walk and change positions every 30 to 45 minutes.
• Lift with good technique: Bend at your hips and knees, keep the load close to your body and avoid twisting while lifting.
• Strengthen your core: Strong abdominal, back and hip muscles support your spine. Clinical Pilates is a great way to build control.
• Set up your workspace: Use a chair with good lower back support and keep your screen at eye level.
• Stay active: Walking, swimming and other low-impact exercise keep your spine and nerves healthy.
• Maintain a healthy weight: Extra body weight increases the load on your lower back.
• Support your sleep: A supportive mattress and a pillow between or under your knees can ease pressure on your lower back.
• Continue your prescribed exercises: Keeping up your home exercise program after symptoms settle helps maintain your progress.

Why Choose Allied Physiotherapy for Sciatica?

Allied Physiotherapy Health Group has 10 multidisciplinary clinics across Surrey, White Rock, Cloverdale, Richmond and North Vancouver, so sciatica care is close to home. Our 5-star rated physiotherapists combine hands-on treatment with targeted exercise to address the root cause of your nerve pain, not just the symptoms.

Because our clinics also offer spinal decompression therapy, IMS (intramuscular stimulation), massage therapy, kinesiology and chiropractic care, your treatment plan can be tailored to exactly what your body needs. We treat ICBC and WorkSafeBC claims, and offer direct billing to most extended health insurance providers.

Our goal is to help you get out of pain, understand your condition and stay active, so sciatica doesn’t keep interrupting your work, sleep and the activities you enjoy.

Book Your Sciatica Physiotherapy Appointment Today

Don’t let sciatic nerve pain keep you from sitting, walking or sleeping comfortably. Book an assessment with one of our physiotherapists today.

We will find the cause of your sciatica and build a personalized treatment plan to relieve your pain, restore your movement and help you get back to the life you enjoy.