Symptoms
- Sharp shooting pain from lower back to leg
- Numbness or tingling in the leg or foot
- Weakness in the affected leg
- Pain worsening with sitting
- Burning or electric shock sensation
Common causes
- Herniated or bulging lumbar disc
- Spinal stenosis
- Piriformis syndrome
- Spondylolisthesis
- Pregnancy
- Prolonged sitting
How physiotherapy helps
Treatment includes spinal mobilisation, neural mobilisation (nerve gliding techniques), McKenzie method, core stabilisation, piriformis stretching, and ergonomic advice. Traction may be used in some cases.
Exercises your physiotherapist may give you
- Sciatic nerve gliding exercises
- Piriformis stretch
- Knee-to-chest stretch
- Press-up extensions (McKenzie)
- Hamstring stretches
- Core stabilisation exercises
Please note: start these exercises only after an assessment, and stop if pain increases. Your physiotherapist will choose the right exercises, number of repetitions and progression for you.
Guide written by the physiotherapists of CAPT – Centre for Advanced Physiotherapy, MVM Educational Trust. For more reading, search MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine).