What sciatica feels like
A deep ache or sharp, shooting pain that starts in your lower back or bum and runs down the back of your leg. Some people feel tingling or numbness in the leg or foot. Sitting can make it worse. So can long drives, soft couches, and bending forward.
Why the leg often is not the problem
Sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis. The sciatic nerve gets irritated somewhere along its path — often near the lower back, pelvis, or hip. The bigger question is why that spot is under pressure in the first place.
In our experience, the pressure often builds because other parts of the body are not doing their job. A few common patterns we look for:
- Hips that do not move well — so your lower back bends and twists more than it should.
- A core that is not supporting you — so your spine takes load it was not built to take on its own.
- Glutes that are not firing — so smaller muscles near the sciatic nerve work overtime and get angry.
- Old habits — years of sitting, or one-sided work, that slowly pull your pelvis out of balance.
Every body is different. That is why we never guess — we test.
How we approach sciatica in Scarborough
- Assess (90 minutes, head to toe). We test your muscles, joints, posture, and how you move — not just your back and leg. You leave knowing which links in the chain are weak, tight, or not doing their share.
- Correct. You get a simple exercise plan aimed at the cause we found — not a generic sciatica sheet.
- Re-test. We measure again, so you can see on paper that your body is working better — not just feeling better for a day.
We work alongside your doctor, physio, or chiro — not instead of them. Many clients come to us after passive treatments eased the pain for a while but it kept coming back.