Can physio help sciatica pain?

Updated August, 11th, 2025

Do you have pain in your lower back and legs?

Pain in the lower back and legs can be symptoms of sciatica. This painful condition can disrupt your life, making simple tasks, like walking or even sitting down, a challenge.

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is a common condition caused by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down through the buttocks and legs.

The condition mainly affects adults between the ages of 30 and 60. It’s particularly common in people who spend a prolonged amount of time sitting or doing heavy lifting.

What are the symptoms of sciatica?

Sciatica symptoms include a range of sensations and pain.

What sensations are caused by sciatica?

Sensations include tingling, numbness and weakness, from your bottom and the back of your leg, down to your foot and toes. The tingling can feel similar to having pins and needles. This may be constant or it can come and go.

What does sciatica pain feel like?

Sciatica pain varies from person to person. Some people report a dull, achy pain, while others have sharp stabbing, burning or shooting pains.

It’s common to experience pain that moves from the low back, to the buttock, down the back of the thigh, then into the calf and foot.

How does sciatica affect daily life?

You may have difficulty moving your leg or foot, or have back pain that radiates down your leg. This can make it hard to walk or stand for lengthy periods.

The pain from sciatica can make it hard to walk, stand, bend or twist. Even just sitting or lying down can be painful. And the pain may worsen if you cough or sneeze.

Can sciatica affect both legs?

Sciatica usually only affects one leg, but in rare cases it can affect both legs. This is known as bilateral sciatica.

Bilateral sciatica can be a sign of a more serious condition called Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES). If you have these symptoms, you should seek urgent medical help.

What causes sciatica?

Sciatica is caused when something rubs or presses on the sciatic nerve. This could be due to one of the following:

A slipped disc

The most common cause of sciatica is a slipped-disc.

Discs are the little cushions of soft tissue that sit between the bones in your spine. A slipped disc happens when one these discs slips out of place and presses on the nerve.

A slipped disc can be caused by:

• Ageing
• Exercising too hard
• Sitting for long periods
• Being inactive or overweight
• Lifting heavy items incorrectly.

Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis occurs where the space around the spinal cord narrows and puts pressure on the nerves.

This can be caused by:

• Ageing
• Arthritis
• Tumours
• Infections
• Injuries
• Spinal surgery
• Genetics or birth defects.

Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis happens when one of your spinal bones slips out of position.

• Ageing
• Genetics
• Birth defects
• Stress fractures
• Injury or trauma.

Other causes of sciatica

Other potential causes of sciatica include:

• Muscle strain
• Pregnancy
• Infection
• Tumours
• Poor posture.

Will sciatica go away on its own?

Sciatica usually gets better in a few weeks or months. But if you’ve had it once, you’re more susceptible to having it again.

With physiotherapy, the vast majority of sciatica cases will significantly improve within 4-6 weeks.

However, some people develop persistent symptoms that can last for months and even years. In these cases, different treatments can be more effective.

What causes sciatica to flare up?

Here are some of the common risk factors:

• Being overweight
• Poor core strength
• Stress and negative emotions
• Poor and repetitive lifting habits
• Being inactive and sitting for long periods.

How is sciatica diagnosed?

Sciatica can be diagnosed by your doctor or a qualified physiotherapist.

They will take a detailed history of your symptoms and undertake a physical examination. In certain cases they may also recommend an MRI to help with confirming the diagnosis.

Can physio help sciatica pain?

Physiotherapy and sports therapy can be effective ways to treat sciatica, particularly in the early phases. The goal of treatment is to reduce your pain, improve your movement, help prevent future issues and reduce the need for more invasive treatments such as surgery.

At your initial session, your physiotherapist will assess your symptoms and determine the most likely cause of your sciatica. They’ll then design a treatment plan to target the specific issues causing your pain and help get you moving again.

Your physiotherapist will use specific exercises and techniques to best help your issue.

At your initial session, your physiotherapist will assess your symptoms and determine the most likely cause of your sciatica. They’ll then design a treatment plan to target the specific issues causing your pain and help get you moving again.

Treatment may include manual intervention, electrotherapy, acupuncture alongside self-management advice and specific home exercises. Your treatment plan will also recommend the best approach to prevent your sciatica returning in the future.

Massage and manual therapy

Manual therapy is often used with physio and sports therapy treatment to help reduce pain and improve mobility in the affected area.

This can include massage, but also joint manipulation and mobilisation, which focus on restoring normal movement to the spine and soft tissue. Your manual therapist may also use hot stones, myofascial release or cupping techniques.

Techniques can vary in intensity and may be tailored to your symptoms. Manual therapy can also be used to improve your posture and alignment, which can help to alleviate pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Dry needling

Dry needling is often used in the early stages of treatment. It’s similar to acupuncture, where thin needles are inserted into specific trigger points of your muscles.

The treatment helps to increase your blood flow and reduce the pain and tightness in your muscles.

Stretching exercises

These exercises can help improve flexibility in the muscles surrounding the spine and relieve pressure on the nerves. Your physiotherapist may recommend specific stretches focusing on areas of tightness in your lower back, hips, and legs to alleviate symptoms.

Strengthening exercises

Strengthening exercises focus on building muscle strength, where needed, through body resistance and bodyweight exercises. The intention is to target weak muscles in your lower back and core to help promote stability and support your spine.

Can physiotherapy make sciatica worse?

The goal of physiotherapy is to relieve symptoms, rather than aggravating them. The exercises may cause some initial discomfort as your body adjusts to the movements, but this should subside.

It’s common practice for your physio to test for sensitivity or discomfort, but this will be very brief and typically only takes a couple of seconds. They do this to get a better understanding of your pain, so they can tailor your treatment plan accordingly.

In rare cases, physiotherapy can aggravate your symptoms, but it shouldn’t cause any lasting damage.

How to treat sciatica symptoms at home

Dealing with sciatica can be incredibly challenging, but there are self-help treatments that can be effective in managing the symptoms and speeding up recovery.

Gentle exercise

You should try to move as much as possible, as being immobile for extended periods can actually worsen the pain and prolong your recovery time. Try gentle stretches or walking to keep your muscles active.

Apply heat or ice

If you apply a hot pack or cold compress to the affected area for a short time, it should help reduce the inflammation and relieve the pain.

Avoid strenuous activities

You should avoid strenuous activities, like heavy lifting and exercising too hard, as they can aggravate your symptoms.

Practise good posture

Aim to maintain a supported but relaxed posture. This should help to alleviate pressure on your sciatic nerve.

Take painkillers and anti-inflammatories

Over-the-counter pain relief, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, may help to reduce any pain you are feeling and allow you to keep moving.

You should always check with your G.P or Pharmacist before taking any medication you have not taken before.

Book a physiotherapy appointment at Hatt Clinic

At Hatt Clinic, we understand the impact that sciatica can have on your daily life. Our physiotherapists and healthcare professionals will diagnose the root cause of your sciatica and provide appropriate treatment to help manage your symptoms.

Learn more about our physio and sports therapy services.

Book an initial physiotherapy consultation online..

Alternatively, you can email us at: enquiries@hattclinic.co.uk

Or call the clinic:

Devizes: 01380 730473

Frome: 01672 516580

Marlborough: 01373 452604