07/20/2026
Summer travel seems to be irritating sciatic-type pain in lots of us.
What's the difference in true sciatica and sciatic-type pain?
True sciatica:
Occurs when the sciatic nerve or one of its spinal nerve roots is irritated or compressed.
Diagnosed by a Doctor, Chiropractor, PT
Common causes are:
Herniated disc
Spinal stenosis
Degenerative changes
Spondylolisthesis
Massage cannot fix these conditions, but it may help reduce muscle guarding and improve comfort.
Sciatic-type pain:
Pain or discomfort that follows the path of the sciatic nerve—from the low back or hip into the buttock, leg, or foot.
May feel like:
Burning
Aching
Sharp or electric
Tingling
Numbness
Sometimes symptoms that resemble sciatica come from muscles irritating or compressing nearby nerves.
Common contributors:
Piriformis
Deep hip rotators
Gluteus medius/minimus
Gluteus maximus
Hamstrings
Quadratus lumborum
Hip flexors
Massage can help when muscular tension is part of the problem.
(Persistent or severe radiating leg pain should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause. Massage therapists can assess muscular contributors and treat diagnosed conditions, but do not diagnose sciatica or other medical conditions.)
How massage therapy helps both sciatic-type pain and diagnosed sciatica:
✓ Reduce muscle tension
✓ Improve circulation
✓ Decrease protective muscle guarding
✓ Improve mobility
✓ Reduce pain sensitivity
✓ Support movement and recovery
I love seeing the improvement in just one or two sessions with clients with persistent radiating pain!
A Sciatic Rescue session with me looks like
Assessment and evaluation.
-Hands on assessment with me and a thorough intake regarding any prior diagnosis and treatment from other healthcare providers.
The most effective treatment depends on the underlying cause of the symptoms. A proper evaluation helps determine the best course of care.
Nerve gliding
-gentle controlled movement designed to help a nerve move smoothly through surrounding tissues.
Soft tissue mobilization
-Gentle to moderate work to reduce tension and improve tissue mobility in muscles that may contribute to pain.
Gentle passive stretching and positional release.
The best feeling is when clients come in stooped forward barely able to walk and leave an hour later standing tall and pain-free. 😍
Message or text to book.
