Four signs that you need physical therapy for sciatica pain

Physical Therapy for Sciatica

Dealing with any type of lower back pain can make your daily life harder. It can keep you from enjoying walks with your spouse. Bending over to load the dishwasher can become a painful activity. Even playing with your kids or grandkids can become a painful chore. 

One common form of lower back pain that affects many people is sciatica. It’s estimated that up to 10% of the people currently dealing with lower back pain have sciatica. This means that more than 3 million Americans could have this condition right now. One option that can effectively treat sciatica is physical therapy, but you might not be sure if you have sciatica in the first place. Physical therapists can help you learn the signs of this common lower back issue. 

These four signs show you have sciatica that requires physical therapy

Many people don’t want to seek physical therapy for sciatica unless it’s absolutely necessary. Often, this is because your life is so busy, or it could be that you’re worried about the cost of therapy. 

However, there are certain sciatica signs that mean you need to seek professional therapeutic care. These signs include: 

  1. Moderate to severe pain that starts in the lower back and runs through one buttock and down the back of one leg. 
  1. Weakness or numbness in one side of your lower back, your leg or your foot. 
  1. Pain that worsens after long periods of sitting. 
  1. A “pins and needles” feeling in your leg, foot or toes. 

How can physical therapy help treat your sciatica?

Physical therapy specialists offer many treatment options for this lower back issue. Typically, they’ll build you an individualized treatment plan that can include therapy methods like: 

  • Astym® therapy sessions where your physical therapist uses metal tools to mobilize soft tissue 
  • Therapeutic exercises to stretch and strengthen lower back muscles 
  • Dry needling that can break down knots of tension in lower back muscles 
  • Virtual therapy sessions where you work with your physical therapist over a secure online video connection
  • At-home care appointments in which you work with your physical therapist one-on-one in your home 

Find top-notch physical therapy for your sciatica at Excel PT

Are you ready to find a physical therapy team to help treat your sciatica? Excel Sports & Physical Therapy has a team of therapy specialists who are ready to help you treat this back condition. 

We’ll start by performing a comprehensive screening of your back. This allows us to learn as much as possible about your symptoms and their root causes. Then, our experienced physical therapists will build you a personalized therapy plan intended to reduce your symptoms and prevent them from recurring. 

Contact our team today for more information about how we can help treat sciatica or to schedule your initial appointment.