Sciatica
Sciatica can affect anyone – from active adults and runners to people who sit for long hours at work. It can make walking feel like a chore and make sitting down feel just as bad.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica is one of the most common and painful conditions we treat at Chadwick’s Physiotherapy. It refers to nerve-related pain that travels down the back of the leg –starting from the lower back or glutes, often reaching the thigh, calf and even the foot. Some people also experience pins and needles, numbness, or a burning sensation along the same path.
The cause is typically irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, which can stem from a variety of underlying issues like a bulging disc, joint restriction, muscle tightness, or nerve entrapment in the lower back or pelvis.
What Are The Symptoms Of Sciatica?
Sciatica presents differently from general back pain – it’s usually more intense and follows a distinct pathway. Common symptoms include:
- Sharp, shooting, or burning pain down the back of the leg
- Numbness, tingling, or pins and needles in the leg or foot
- Pain that worsens when sitting, standing, or changing position
- Difficulty walking, bending, or getting comfortable
- Disturbed sleep due to pain
Sciatica can affect anyone – from active adults and runners to people who sit for long hours at work. It can make walking feel like a chore and make sitting down feel just as bad. Many people try stretching, painkillers, or even steroid injections, but these often only offer short-term relief. Without treating the root cause, the symptoms tend to keep coming back.
What Is Our Approach To Fixing/Treating Sciatica?
At Chadwick’s Physiotherapy, we don’t believe in masking symptoms – we focus on fixing the cause. It starts with a comprehensive assessment to identify exactly where the irritation is coming from, whether it’s a disc issue, muscle tightness, joint dysfunction, or nerve entrapment.
Once we know what’s going on, your treatment may include:
- Manual Therapy – Hands-on work to reduce stiffness, ease joint pressure and relieve nerve irritation.
- Soft Tissue and Nerve Mobilisation – Specific techniques to improve how the sciatic nerve moves through surrounding tissues, helping to reduce sensitivity and pain.
- Acupuncture and Traction – These techniques can ease tension and decompress the affected area, especially in more acute or stubborn cases.
- Stimpod Therapy – A modern, non-invasive treatment that targets nerve pain and promotes healing – especially effective when sciatica is severe or unresponsive to traditional methods.
- Strength and Movement-Based Rehab – As pain settles, we introduce exercises to rebuild core strength and improve spinal mobility. This helps reduce the chance of flare-ups and gives you more confidence to move without fear.
We guide you step by step – from the painful early stages right through to full recovery. Our aim is always the same: to reduce pain, restore function, and help you return to the activities that matter to you.
Download Free Report
Sciatica can feel like it controls your life – but it doesn’t have to stay that way. With the right treatment, you can take back control. Download our free Sciatica Pain Report to learn what might be causing your pain, how to relieve it at home and what steps you can take right now to start your recovery.