If you have sciatica, you already know that it causes a sharp jolt shooting down the back of your leg. And yes — that’s common. But the why behind that pain can be surprising.
Sciatica refers to irritation of your sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in your body that runs from your lower back through your hips and down each leg. When it’s aggravated, it can produce pain, burning, numbness, or tingling along that pathway.
At Key Chiropractic, we look beyond the obvious causes. Sometimes sciatica isn’t simply a slipped disc or age-related degeneration. It’s hidden in your habits, posture, or muscles that are working overtime without you realizing it.
Here are seven surprising culprits, along with how Dr. Ryan Key and our team can help you address them.
Most of us spend large parts of our day sitting at a desk, in a car, or on a couch. When your pelvis tilts forward, your back muscles fatigue, and the sciatic nerve can get irritated. Crummy posture puts pressure on your spine, which invites sciatica.
What we do: We assess your posture and ergonomics (the way you sit or stand in your workstation), prescribe specific stretches, and help you retrain movement patterns so sitting stops fueling your pain.
You might think sleep is “resting,” but how you sleep matters. Twisted hips, unsupported knees, or a too-soft mattress can subtly misalign your lower back and set you up for nerve irritation by morning.
What we do: We look at your sleep posture and suggest adjustments, pillow setups, or mattress choices that support a neutral spine. This way, healing happens overnight, not only during your waking hours.
The piriformis muscle — deep in your buttocks — can irritate the sciatic nerve when it’s tight. This is called piriformis syndrome, and it can feel just like “classic” sciatica.
What we do: We identify muscle imbalances and use hands-on therapy and tailored stretches to release tight muscles that may be pinching your nerve.
Your core isn’t just about six-pack abs. It’s the stabilizing engine that protects your spine. When your core is weak, the lower back and pelvis take more load, and that stress can irritate the sciatic nerve.
What we do: We design strength programs that support your spine, reducing the mechanical stress that leads to sciatica flare-ups.
Even a tiny leg-length discrepancy can tilt your pelvis, change how you walk, and lead to recurring sciatica symptoms.
What we do: Through careful evaluation, we detect these subtle imbalances and may recommend shoe lifts, specific exercises, or alignment work to even things out.
You may be active — which is great — but if your gait, stride, or exercise form is off, you can repeatedly stress your sciatic nerve without thinking about it.
What we do: We watch how you move and help you optimize walking mechanics, exercise form, and body alignment to keep nerves calm and muscles happy.
When stress shows up physically, your nervous system goes into “guarding” mode. Muscles tighten, breathing becomes shallow, and nerve sensitivity rises, especially in the back and hips. Stress isn’t just emotional; it’s structural, too.
What we do: We help you reset the nervous system through gentle adjustments, breathing work, and stretches that take the edge off muscle tension that feeds sciatica.
At Key Chiropractic, we don’t just target pain where you feel it; we look for the root of what keeps it coming back. That means:
We also help with conditions that often co-occur with sciatica (like low back pain and pelvic instability), so you get a treatment plan that treats your whole body.
If you’ve been dealing with sciatica pain, let us help you uncover what’s really driving it. Call Key Chiropractic or book an appointment online. We’ll work with you to rethink your body mechanics and bring back the comfort you’ve been missing.
