Low Back Pain & Sciatica

Man holding a painful back due to back knottsWhat is it? Low Back Pain & Sciatica is a pain that begins in the low back and spreads throughout the hip and buttock and radiates down the leg and usually only affects one side of the body.

Common Cause: A spinal disc compressing on the sciatic nerve root in the lower back.

Common Symptoms: Pain in the lower back, hip, buttock and down the leg.

How can Physiotherapy help? By improving the flexibility of the spine and improving its alignment, the strain on damaged tissues can be reduced which also helps reduce muscle spasm.   It can calm symptoms by allowing the lower back to move more freely without impinging on the sciatic nerve root.

What to expect during treatment: Treatment will often include the use of  Power Assisted Micro-manipulation (click here for more information) Stretching exercises for the lower back and leg, core stability exercises to stabilise the lower back muscles, and general exercise advice.

What can you do to help yourself? Rest for temporary pain relief, but try to remain as active as possible. Pain killers and anti-inflammatory medication may be necessary depending on severity.

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The Author

Lewis Payne

Lewis graduated from The University of Nottingham in 2013 with a First Class Honours in Physiotherapy, worked as Sheffield F.C.’s first team Physiotherapist, and now runs a leading-edge private clinic in Sheffield. With over ten years of experience, he specialises in manual therapy, advanced technological treatments, and exercise-based approaches, focusing on spinal and joint conditions, sports injuries, and specifically complex spinal issues like disc pathology and scoliosis. Lewis leads in IDD Therapy, performing over 6000 treatments, offers MRI referrals and reviews, and employs a holistic treatment philosophy viewing the body as a Tensegrity structure. He excels in postural analysis, soft tissue release techniques, and prescribes biomechanical corrective exercises to enhance natural movement.