Back Pain & Sciatica Treatment

Back pain is one of the most common — and most debilitating — conditions we treat. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, one in four Americans has experienced back pain within the past three months at any given time. And for those dealing with sciatica, that pain isn’t just an ache — it’s a burning, shooting, relentless sensation that can travel from the lower back all the way down to the foot. At Fultz Physical Therapy & Joint Rehab, our physical therapists at our South Shreveport, North Shreveport, and South Bossier clinics provide targeted, evidence-based treatment for the full spectrum of back pain and sciatica — in many cases helping patients avoid surgery altogether.

Understanding Back Pain

“Back pain” covers a broad range of conditions affecting the bones, discs, muscles, nerves, and connective tissues of the spine. It can be acute — arriving suddenly from a specific injury — or chronic, persisting for three months or longer. It can be localized to one region of the spine or radiate into the hips, legs, and feet depending on its cause.

Common sources of back pain include:

• Muscle Strains and Ligament Sprains – The most frequent cause of acute back pain, often resulting from improper lifting, sudden movements, or overexertion
• Herniated or Bulging Discs – When the soft inner material of a spinal disc pushes outward, it can compress nearby nerves and produce significant pain, weakness, and radiating symptoms
• Degenerative Disc Disease – Gradual breakdown of the spinal discs over time — accelerated by obesity, poor posture, and repetitive stress — causes chronic, aching lower back pain
• Spinal Stenosis – Narrowing of the spinal canal places pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots, producing pain, numbness, and weakness, particularly with prolonged standing or walking
• Postural Dysfunction – Prolonged sitting, forward head posture, and sedentary work habits place chronic, uneven stress on the spinal structures that accumulates into persistent pain over time
• Facet Joint Dysfunction – Inflammation or degeneration of the small joints connecting the vertebrae causes localized spinal pain that often worsens with extension or rotation

Understanding Sciatica

Sciatica — clinically known as lumbar radiculopathy — is a specific and often intensely painful condition caused by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body. The sciatic nerve originates in the lower back, splits at the base of the spine, and runs down through the buttocks and into each leg, all the way to the foot.

When the sciatic nerve is compressed — by a herniated disc, bone spur, arthritic changes, or spinal stenosis — it produces a characteristic pattern of shooting, burning, or electric pain that travels from the lower back through the buttock and down the leg. Sciatica most commonly affects people between the ages of 30 and 50, and while the pain can be severe, it responds very well to physical therapy when treated promptly.

Accompanying symptoms may include:

• Numbness or tingling in the leg or foot
• Weakness in the leg or difficulty controlling foot movement
• Pain that worsens with prolonged sitting or standing
• Sharp pain that makes walking or changing positions difficult

How Physical Therapy Treats Back Pain and Sciatica

Physical therapy is among the most effective treatments available for back pain and sciatica — and at Fultz Physical Therapy & Joint Rehab, treatment begins with a thorough evaluation of your spine, posture, movement patterns, and neurological symptoms before a single exercise is prescribed. Your treatment plan is built entirely around your specific diagnosis, not a generic protocol.

Your personalized treatment plan may include:

• Manual Therapy – Hands-on spinal mobilization and manipulation techniques to restore normal joint mechanics, reduce nerve compression, and relieve pain throughout the lumbar and thoracic spine
• Functional Dry Needling – Highly effective for releasing the deep paraspinal muscle tension and trigger points that develop around spinal injuries and perpetuate chronic back pain
• Therapeutic Exercise – Progressive core stabilization, lumbar strengthening, and flexibility programs designed to support the spine, reduce nerve compression, and prevent recurrence
• Lumbar Traction and Decompression – Gentle distraction techniques to relieve pressure on compressed discs and nerve roots — particularly effective for herniated disc and sciatica cases
• Nerve Mobilization Techniques – Specialized treatment to restore normal sciatic nerve movement through the lumbar spine and lower extremity, reducing pain and neurological symptoms
• Postural Correction and Ergonomic Education – Identifying and correcting the sitting habits, workplace setup, and movement patterns that are loading the spine unevenly and driving your pain
• Corrective Exercise – Retraining movement mechanics to eliminate the faulty patterns that led to injury and reduce the risk of recurrence
• Thermal and Modality Treatments – Ultrasound, electrical stimulation, heat, and ice therapy to manage inflammation, promote disc and tissue healing, and provide pain relief throughout the recovery process

Don’t Wait on Back Pain or Sciatica

Back pain and sciatica rarely resolve completely on their own — and the longer they go untreated, the greater the risk of chronic pain, permanent nerve damage, and eventual surgical intervention. Whether your pain started yesterday or has been building for months, early physical therapy is the single most important step you can take toward a full recovery.

The team at Fultz Physical Therapy & Joint Rehab is ready to help, with locations in South Shreveport, North Shreveport, and South Bossier, LA serving patients throughout the Shreveport-Bossier area.

Contact us today to request your evaluation and start your path to a pain-free back.