Sciatica: Causes, Symptoms, and When Physiotherapy Makes the Difference
That sharp, shooting pain that travels from your lower back down through your leg — if you’ve felt it, you probably haven’t forgotten it. Sciatica is one of the most common and frustrating types of nerve pain people experience, and it can make everyday tasks like sitting, walking, or even sleeping feel like a challenge. The good news? It’s treatable, and physiotherapy has strong evidence behind it as an effective approach.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica isn’t a diagnosis on its own — it’s a symptom. It refers to pain that follows the path of the sciatic nerve, which is the longest nerve in the body. This nerve starts in the lower back, runs through the hips and buttocks, and branches down each leg.
When this nerve gets irritated or compressed, you feel it. The pain can range from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or even an electric shock-like jolt. Some people also experience numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness along the affected leg.
Common Causes of Sciatica
Understanding what’s causing your sciatica is the first step toward treating it effectively. A few common culprits include:
Herniated or Bulging Disc
The discs in your spine act as cushions between the vertebrae. When one bulges or herniates, it can press directly on the sciatic nerve. This is the most frequent cause of sciatica.
Spinal Stenosis
This refers to a narrowing of the spinal canal, which can put pressure on the nerves passing through it. It’s more common in adults over 50.
Piriformis Syndrome
The piriformis is a small muscle deep in the buttock. When it tightens or spasms, it can irritate the sciatic nerve nearby — this is sometimes called “piriformis syndrome” and can mimic classic sciatica.
Degenerative Disc Disease
As we age, the discs between our vertebrae naturally lose some height and hydration. This can lead to changes in the spine that increase the likelihood of nerve compression.
Recognizing the Symptoms
Sciatica symptoms are usually felt on one side of the body and may include:
- Pain radiating from the lower back through the buttock and down the leg
- A burning or tingling sensation in the leg or foot
- Numbness or weakness in the affected leg
- Pain that worsens when sitting for long periods
- Difficulty standing up or changing positions
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s worth getting a proper assessment. You can learn more about what sciatica involves and how it affects daily life on our sciatica condition page.
How Physiotherapy Helps with Sciatica
Physiotherapy is widely recommended as a first-line treatment for sciatica — and for good reason. Rather than masking the pain, a physiotherapist works to identify the root cause and address it through targeted exercise, manual therapy, and education.
Exercise Therapy
Specific exercises designed to reduce nerve compression and improve spinal stability are a cornerstone of sciatica treatment. These often include nerve mobilization techniques, core strengthening, and gentle stretching of the hip and lumbar region. Research supports the use of structured exercise programs for managing sciatica pain and improving function. A randomized controlled trial published in SPINE found that exercise therapy led to meaningful improvements in pain and disability for patients with lumbar radiculopathy — the clinical term for sciatica caused by nerve root compression.
Manual Therapy
Hands-on techniques such as joint mobilization and soft tissue work can help reduce muscle tension, improve spinal mobility, and ease the mechanical pressure contributing to nerve irritation.
Posture and Movement Education
How you sit, stand, and move throughout the day has a real impact on your recovery. Your physiotherapist will help you understand which positions and habits are making things worse — and how to modify them.
A Personalized Plan
No two cases of sciatica are the same. A thorough assessment allows your physio to tailor a treatment plan to your specific cause, severity, and goals. Evidence also supports the value of individualized physiotherapy approaches — a study indexed in PMC examining conservative management of lumbar disc herniation highlighted that structured physiotherapy significantly reduced pain and improved function compared to minimal intervention.
When Should You See a Physiotherapist?
If your sciatica symptoms have lasted more than a week or two, are getting worse, or are significantly affecting your daily life, it’s time to seek professional help. Early treatment tends to lead to faster recovery and can help prevent the condition from becoming chronic.
At Wellness Place in Newmarket, our physiotherapy team has experience helping patients work through sciatica at every stage. Whether your pain just started or has been lingering for months, we’ll assess what’s driving it and build a plan that gets you moving comfortably again. Learn more about our approach on our physiotherapy services page, or reach out to book your first appointment.
You don’t have to just live with sciatica. With the right guidance and a consistent plan, most people make a full recovery — and physiotherapy is one of the most effective ways to get there.