Back & Spine · Trenton, MI
Sciatica
Physical therapy for sciatica at Total Body Rehab — evaluation-driven, one-on-one care in Trenton, serving all of Downriver.
Sciatica is pain that travels along the sciatic nerve's path — from the low back or buttock down the leg, sometimes to the foot. It's a symptom, not a diagnosis: a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or deep buttock muscle tension can each irritate the nerve.
Most sciatica improves with conservative treatment. Identifying the actual source determines which exercises help and, importantly, which make things worse.
Common signs & symptoms
- Pain radiating from the back or buttock down the leg
- Burning, electric, or shooting leg pain
- Numbness or tingling in the leg or foot
- Pain worse with sitting, coughing, or bending
- Leg weakness in more involved cases
How physical therapy helps
We determine what's irritating the nerve, then treat accordingly: directional-preference exercises (McKenzie Method) to centralize leg pain toward the spine, nerve-gliding techniques, hands-on treatment for the hip and low back, and graded strengthening as symptoms recede. Centralizing pain — leg symptoms retreating toward the back — is our compass that treatment is working.
Treatments we use
- McKenzie Method
- Nerve gliding
- Manual therapy
- Dry needling
- Progressive strengthening
Frequently asked questions
How long does sciatica take to go away?
Many cases improve substantially within 4–8 weeks of targeted treatment. Severe disc-related sciatica can take longer — and steady progress, not instant relief, is the realistic goal.
When is sciatica an emergency?
New numbness in the groin or inner thighs, changes in bladder or bowel control, or rapidly progressing leg weakness need emergency care immediately. Everything else belongs on a normal evaluation timeline.
Is stretching good for sciatica?
Sometimes — and sometimes it aggravates the nerve. Which stretches help depends on the source, which is exactly what the evaluation figures out. Random internet stretching is a coin flip.
This page is general education, not a diagnosis. For advice about your specific situation, schedule an evaluation or talk with your physician.