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Back pain is extremely common and affects most of us at some point in our lifetime. The good news is that most back pain improves on its own over a few weeks. However, our physiotherapists are on hand to help treat your back pain when it persists and you find you need help managing your back problems and preventing them from getting worse.
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is where the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back to your feet, is irritated or compressed. It usually gets better on its own but can persist in some cases. Sciatica causes a shooting pain down your leg (also known as referred pain) and can make sitting and sleeping comfortably difficult. But physiotherapy for sciatica will provide you with a series of exercises that help your sciatic nerve run more freely through within the structures that surround it. It reduces inflammation and stiffness in these areas, alleviating the pain and helping you get back to your usual routine.
Living with any kind of back pain or back problems can make everyday life challenging. It can impact your sleep, your social life, and your ability to function at work. In many cases, back pain or sciatica can be effectively treated with physiotherapy, and there are many kinds of physiotherapy techniques to help treat many different kinds of back problems.
This page will tell you everything you need to know about what physiotherapy for back pain and sciatica involves.
The cost of physiotherapy starts from £64 for your first appointment.* This is based on a 45-minute appointment and includes a full assessment and treatment plan.
The cost of follow-up appointments starts from £50.*
The cost of your total physiotherapy treatment will depend on various factors such as your condition, how many sessions you need and what type of treatment you are recommended. Some of our specialist treatments, such as steroid injection therapy and Phits Insoles are priced separately, however you will be informed of any additional charges as part of your treatment planning. Your physiotherapist will always discuss your treatment options with you.
*This is a guide price and may vary. You’ll be told the exact cost before you book.
Back pain is an extremely common problem. It can be present on its own or, as previously mentioned, you can also suffer with symptoms radiating down your leg (caused by sciatica), which is due to irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve.
Common causes of back pain and sciatica include:
- A bulging disc or herniated disc (also known as a slipped disc) in your spine
- Degenerative disc disease
- Spondylolisthesis (a condition involving spine instability, which means the vertebrae move more than they should, causing one or more vertebra to slip out of place onto the vertebra below)
- Facet joint osteoarthritis
Most cases of back pain and sciatica can be effectively treated with physiotherapy rather than requiring injections or surgical procedures.
Our physiotherapists will undertake an initial assessment to understand why you may be suffering with back pain and/or sciatica. This includes a physical examination to look at how your spine moves, and may also involve testing the nerves in your legs to see if they are affected. The physiotherapist will ask you a series of questions to understand how and when your back pain started, and they'll also want to know what hobbies or activities it is preventing you from doing. This allows them to tailor a treatment program to your exact needs.
Physiotherapy techniques for back pain and sciatica
Depending on the cause of your back pain and sciatica, our physiotherapists will treat the symptoms with a comprehensive range of manual therapy and rehabilitative exercises.
Manual therapy involves using hands-on techniques to mobilise the joints of the spine or soft tissue techniques, such as massage, to reduce muscular spasm and aid the flexibility of specific muscle groups.
Exercise programs are also a common treatment for back pain. These can be designed to increase flexibility or improve the strength of muscles that support your spine – sometimes called your ‘core muscles’. Often the exercises you are recommended will be for your whole body, as this improves the way all of your muscles work together and can help prevent further issues in the future, as well as helping you prepare to get back to hobbies or sport.
How long could it take for back pain and sciatica to resolve with physiotherapy?
A lot of back pain will go in its own within a few weeks. However, it can take between 6-12 weeks for some back pain and sciatica to resolve, and the timeline really depends on the underlying cause. The purpose of physiotherapy is to help speed up the recovery time by reducing the pain and helping you to get back to normal activities.
It’s worth remembering, all our physiotherapists work as a part of a wider team and have access to other hospital services should you need it. If the physiotherapist feels that you require an MRI scan or you need to see a consultant, they can arrange that for you.
There are many types of physiotherapy for back pain, including:
- Individual exercise programmes
- Strengthening programmes
- Muscle and joint manipulation techniques
- Expert advice managing your pain and how to perform everyday tasks
- Steroid injection therapy
Your physiotherapist will explain which form of treatment is the best for you before they begin building your bespoke treatment plan.
When you choose to go private for physiotherapy with Circle Health Group, you can expect:
- Flexible appointment times and locations to fit your routine
- Freedom to choose your hospital and physiotherapist
- Specialist physiotherapy equipment and imaging facilities at your fingertips
- Specialist advice and exercises to follow in sessions and at home
- Tailored services (your physiotherapist will build your programme around your needs)
If you want to know more about physiotherapy for back pain or sciatica, and find out if it's the right treatment for you, call a member of our team directly.
Content reviewed by Circle in-house team in November 2023. Next review due November 2026.
- Back pain, NHS
- Back pain, NHS Inform
- Back pain, Versus Arthritis
- Treating chronic back pain, Johns Hopkins Medicine
