Sciatica is one of the most common symptoms affecting both the general population and athletes. Many people experience pain, numbness, tingling, or tightness radiating from the lower back or glute area down the leg. However, sciatica is a symptom—not a diagnosis.
Because there are many possible causes of sciatica, patients often struggle with long-lasting symptoms when the true root cause is never identified.
At FuncPhysio Physical Therapy in New York, we perform a full-body assessment to identify the underlying cause of your sciatica and provide individualized treatment.
Common Causes of Sciatica
1. Spine-Related Conditions
Many people immediately assume sciatica is caused by a spinal issue, which is why they often first visit a spine specialist.
Common spine-related causes include:
- Lumbar disc herniation
- Spinal stenosis (bone spurs)
- Spondylolisthesis
In some cases, medications, injections, or surgery may be helpful. However, imaging findings do not always correlate with symptoms. Many people have MRI findings without pain, while others have severe symptoms despite minimal imaging changes.
This means that surgery or medication is not always necessary.
How we treat patients with low back pain 👇
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2. Peripheral Nerve Entrapment
The sciatic nerve travels throughout the body and passes through multiple areas including:
- Piriformis
- Hamstrings
- Calf muscles
- Foot and sole
If surrounding tissues become tight or restricted, they may compress or irritate the nerve along its pathway.
This can create symptoms similar to sciatica, even without major spinal pathology.
Examples include:
- Piriformis syndrome
- Hamstring tightness
- Calf or ankle restrictions
Nerve conduction studies do not always fully reflect these mobility restrictions.
A physical therapist can assess nerve tension and mobility through movement-based examination.
3. Fascial Restrictions and Scar Tissue
Sciatic symptoms are not only influenced by muscles.
Fascia, connective tissue, blood vessels, and scar tissue can all limit normal nerve mobility.
Ask yourself:
- Do you have old injuries?
- Prior surgeries?
- C-section scars?
- Ankle sprains or hamstring strains?
Old injuries and scars may create tension through fascial chains, restricting movement and placing stress on neural structures.
These restrictions are often missed by imaging or spine-focused evaluations.
4. Pelvic Dysfunction
The sciatic nerve originates from the lumbar spine and sacrum, meaning pelvic mechanics can significantly affect symptoms.
If the pelvis or sacroiliac joints do not move properly, additional tension may be placed on the surrounding neural tissues.
Examples include:
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
- Pelvic asymmetry
- Tailbone (coccyx) dysfunction
The coccyx connects to membranes associated with the spinal cord and neural structures. Dysfunction in this region may contribute to abnormal tension patterns.
Physical therapy treatment focused on pelvic mobility and alignment may significantly improve persistent sciatica symptoms.
How we treat pelvic dysfunction 👇
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Why Sciatica Symptoms Persist
Many patients have already tried:
- Chiropractic care
- Massage
- Acupuncture
- Medications
- Injections
- Traditional physical therapy
Yet symptoms continue because treatment may focus only on the painful area rather than the true root cause.
At FuncPhysio, our doctors perform a comprehensive full-body assessment to determine whether your symptoms are driven by the spine, nerve mobility, fascia, pelvis, or movement dysfunction.
Looking for Sciatica Treatment in New York?
If you have been dealing with prolonged sciatica despite multiple treatments, we may be able to help.
Our treatment approach focuses on:
- Root cause analysis
- Manual therapy
- Neural mobilization
- Movement correction
- Pelvic and spinal mechanics
Contact FuncPhysio Physical Therapy today to schedule a full-body evaluation and start addressing the true cause of your sciatica.
