Do I See a Physio or Chiropractor for Sciatica?

A physiotherapist and a chiropractor both relieve sciatica pain, though their individual treatment approaches vary. It depends on the cause and severity of your symptoms whether you need both or are deciding between a physio or chiropractor for sciatica. Sciatica is a common back problem that causes pain or numbness in the buttocks, hips, lower legs and feet. The leg pain is worse, but can be relieved with the right treatments at the right time. 

But, which one is the right treatment for your sciatica pain? When considering chiropractor vs physical therapy for sciatica, understanding your options is key.

Let’s find out. 

Understanding Sciatica & Its Causes

Various studies have reported that the annual incidence of an episode of sciatica ranges from 1% to 5% in the global population. This suggests that for every 100 individuals, 1 to 5 may experience a new onset of sciatica within a year. 

Sciatica is the inflammation of the sciatic nerve. This sciatic nerve runs along the muscles of the back of the thigh, lower legs, ankle and feet. It is also responsible for the sensations of the skin at the back of the thighs, the outer part of the leg, the bottom and the inner portions of the foot. So, when this sciatic nerve is irritated, pinched or compressed due to an injury or disorder, it results in sciatica. 

How Does Sciatica Nerve Pain Feel?

• You feel a sharp shooting pain in the back of the thigh.
• The sensation travels below the knee, through your lower legs to the feet. 
• You may also feel numbness or a tingling sensation in the thigh, legs, ankle and feet. 

The pain worsens after specific activities such as prolonged sitting, squeezing, lifting, bending or coughing. 

Physiotherapy and chiropractic care treat the underlying cause of sciatica while helping you manage the symptoms. This ensures long-term recovery and overall well-being. Identifying the cause is a key step in choosing a physio or chiropractor for sciatica for effective treatment.  

Who Can Treat My Sciatica? Sciatica Chiropractor or Physiotherapist?

Both physiotherapy and chiropractic can be effective for sciatica. The symptoms and cause can help decide who to consult. For example, a physiotherapist is generally recommended for muscle weakness or numbness while chiropractic care is more suitable to relieve acute sciatica symptoms (sudden & short-term); understanding this difference is crucial when considering a chiropractor for sciatica.

Let’s understand how the treatment approaches vary and their role in relieving sciatica nerve pain. 

When Does a Chiropractor Help With Sciatica?

Chiropractic and sciatica go hand in hand and helps with the first phase of sciatica. Chiropractic care works best if sciatica is caused due to spinal misalignment or the symptoms are less than 6 weeks old. Spinal manipulation, one of the key chiropractic techniques, corrects the alignment and relieves nerve pain. 

Now the question arises : Can a chiropractor help with Sciatica? Yes obviously, you should definitely consult a chiropractor to address the symptoms, such as: 

• Sharp or Shooting Leg Pain– Starts in the lower back or buttocks and radiates down the leg, often to the foot. 
• Numbness or Tingling– Felt in the back of the thighs, the calves of the feet, and the soles. 
• Lower Back Pain– May or may not accompany the leg pain. 
• Muscle Weakness- Difficulty lifting the front of the foot. 
• Pain on one side of the leg. 

These symptoms show up suddenly, usually after certain activities such as: 

• Lifting something heavy inappropriately
• A sudden twisting movement
• Prolonged sitting 
• Poor posture

Chiropractic care is effective in treating the initial symptoms of sciatica, resulting in short-term and quick relief from sciatic pain and chiropractor intervention can be highly beneficial here. The symptoms may start healing on their own after 6 weeks, but returning to normal activity can still be a challenge. Chiropractors are trained professionals who can speed up the healing process, making it easier for the patient to restore an active lifestyle. 

When Does a Physiotherapist Help With Sciatica?

Physiotherapy is a more effective treatment if sciatica is caused by defects in the musculoskeletal system. The common underlying issues where physio is recommended include herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, piriformis syndrome and muscle imbalances. 

Causes of sciatica that can be relieved with physiotherapy

• Muscle weakness/imbalances- Weak core muscles or tight hip flexors can contribute to sciatica pain. 
• Movement restrictions- Stiffness in the back or hips may elevate the pain. 
• Postural issues- A poor posture can worsen the pain. 

Physiotherapists address the early symptoms, post-surgical rehab, chronic or recurrent cases of sciatica pain. They help alleviate the symptoms and prevent its recurrence providing you with long-term benefits.  Their goal is to manage the pain and help you return to a normal, active life efficiently. 

Physiotherapy vs Chiropractic for Sciatica: Treatment Approaches 

Physiotherapy and chiropractic treatments are non-invasive. They work by stimulating the natural healing capabilities of your body, which makes these excellent first line of treatments for sciatica. Though they are both conservative treatments, their individual approach and impact varies distinctly when you compare chiropractor vs physical therapy for sciatica. Let’s find out. 

How Can a Chiropractor Help With Sciatica?

In most cases of sciatica, your spine may feel locked. You may struggle to stand straight up or do simple activities like getting up from a chair or out of bed. 

Chiropractors mainly work with the spine. When patients wonder, “can a chiropractor help with sciatic nerve pain?”, the answer often lies in their ability to identify and correct spinal misalignments that compress the sciatic nerve, resulting in sciatica pain. They focus on realigning the spine, reducing nerve compression, and restoring normal joint function.

Let’s check out the chiropractic treatments that relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Spinal Manipulation 

Spinal manipulation therapy or SMT involves a quick, controlled force applied to a dysfunctional joint in the spine It helps with optimum spinal alignment and joint mobility. 

The chiropractor detects the underlying cause of your sciatic nerve root compression in the lower spine. If misaligned vertebral segments is what’s causing the pain, they may use spinal decompression therapy to fix the alignment, reduce nerve pressure and bring you relief. 

Physiological Impacts on Sciatica

• Realigns joints to relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve root
• Facilitates fluid motion, reducing inflammation
• Relieves tension in the lumbar and gluteal muscles
• Restores spinal curvature and movement efficiency

All in all, spinal decompression is a suitable treatment if your sciatica is caused by nerve root compression in the lower spine. 

Flexion-Distraction Technique (FDT)

Sciatica symptoms can be a result of disc herniation, facet joint dysfunction or spinal stenosis. In that case, chiropractors perform the FDT on a specialized table gently stretching and mobilizing the spine in rhythmic motions. 

Physiological Impacts on Sciatica

• Reduces disc bulge (if any) pressing on the sciatic nerve
• Repairs and nourishes degenerated discs
• Relieves tension in the lumbar and gluteal regions
• Improves alignment and range of motion

The flexion-distraction technique relieves sciatica pain by decompressing the spine, increasing disc hydration, mobilizing joints and relaxing muscles.                            

Manual Soft Tissue Therapy 

Sometimes, sciatic nerve can be irritated from tight muscles, inflammation or fascia restrictions. Spasms in the lower back muscles or tightness in hamstring muscles can irritate the nerve causing sciatica pain. This is where soft tissue therapy comes into play. 

The chiropractor identifies the tight muscles that may contribute to the pain. Then they use their hands to gently manipulate the injured muscles, fascia, tendons and ligaments. The subtle pressure eases the muscles, reducing pain and restoring optimal mobility. 

Physiological Impacts on Sciatica

• Reduces muscle spasms and tension
• Boosts blood circulation
• Breaks down trigger points and adhesions
• Relieves nerve compression
• Improves mobility

Misaligned or protruding discs are not the only causes of sciatica. Tight muscles can also compress the sciatic nerve, contributing to the pain. If that’s the case, soft tissue therapy may just be the treatment for your recovery. 

Postural Correction 

The connection between posture, chiropractic and sciatica is strong. While a poor posture doesn’t directly cause sciatica, it increases the risk of sciatic nerve root compression. For instance, a forward head posture & rounded shoulders shifts spinal weight forward compressing lumbar discs. Slouched sitting, similarly, increases the risk of bulging discs which in turn contributes to sciatica pain. 

Chiropractors identify and correct the postural misalignments in the spinal and pelvic region to relieve sciatic nerve pressure. They use techniques like spinal manipulation, pelvic adjustments and postural training to realign the joints in their neutral, normal position. 

How Does a Physiotherapist Help With Sciatica?

The goal of a physiotherapist is to get rid of muscle stiffness, inflammation and pain associated with sciatica. They choose techniques that address the root cause of the condition and help prevent its recurrence in the future. 

Here are the common physiotherapy treatments that work well on sciatica

Physical Modalities

Physiotherapists may use different modalities to reduce pain and inflammation, such as heat and cold therapy, ultrasound therapy or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS. In most cases, physios begin sciatica treatment in Brampton with heat and cold therapy to reduce inflammation and relax muscles. 

Manual Therapy 

These are direct hands-on techniques physiotherapists use to improve joint mobility and relax muscles. Common soft tissue mobilization techniques include massage therapy, myofascial release and deep tissue therapy. These are recommended if the muscles surrounding the affected nerve are tightened and/or lose their normal flexibility. The physiotherapist gently massages the area in a proper rhythmic motion to release the muscle tension and get you moving painlessly. 

Exercises/Physical Therapy

Physical therapists guide you through specific stretching and strengthening exercises to ease the pain and prevent sciatica from returning. The exercises help build optimum strength, balance, range of motion and aerobic capacity required for an individual to live a healthy, active life. Exercises are more specifically about building a stronger core that can prevent future episodes of sciatica. 

Physiotherapy is more effective in restoring optimal mobility and flexibility, helping sciatica patients move effortlessly. It is also a suitable choice if you are looking for long-term rehabilitation and prevention. 

What Does Research Say?

According to a 2024 case report, spinal manipulation and joint mobilization techniques have been found to reduce low back pain associated with sciatica significantly without the need for surgery. This answers a common query: does chiropractor help with sciatica?

According to a 2006 study published in the Spine Journal, chiropractic joint manipulation is more effective in relieving lower back and sciatica pain caused by a protruding in vertebral disc.

Natural treatments like chiropractic and physiotherapy reduce dependence on opioids or pain meds. A 2025 research article shows that adults with sciatica who received chiropractic spinal manipulation had a lower risk of opioid-related adverse drug events (ORADEs). These events harm patients and can include side effects, increased hospital stays, longer recovery time and more. 

There is not enough evidence to make precise clinical judgements about the effectiveness of physiotherapy alone in treating sciatica. However, in most cases, the conservative treatments are preferred because physiotherapy contributes to your overall wellbeing when paired with chiropractic, acupuncture or other modalities. It depends on the patient’s individual recovery and healing needs. 

Should I Go to a Doctor or Chiropractor for Sciatica Dilemma. How to Choose?

Note: Both physiotherapists and chiropractors are trained to help with sciatica. The treatment approach is recommended to you based on your sciatica’s underlying cause, symptoms and personal preference. Outcomes in both cases include relief, easy movement and well-being. Talk to a healthcare professional near Brampton, to choose between physio or chiropractor for sciatica, and they will prescribe the best treatments after assessing your symptoms.

I have narrowed down the key features that can help you choose the right healthcare professional for your sciatica. 

In Brampton, you can also find multidisciplinary clinics like Physiotherapy First which has a team of healthcare professionals like physiotherapists & chiropractors working together as a team. They can evaluate your condition and customize a comprehensive treatment plan consisting of one or multiple holistic approaches, helping you decide between a sciatica chiropractor or physiotherapist or even a combined approach.

sid@easydigi.ca

See Full Bio