Lower back pain
and sciatica

Stiffness and sharp pain in the lower back, and in

some cases pain running down the leg. Open until

7pm weeknights and Saturday mornings.

Book an appointment

WorkCover accepted
Over 10 years in practice
Health fund claims on the spot

WorkCover accepted
Over 10 years in practice
Health fund claims on the spot

WorkCover accepted
Over 10 years in practice
Health fund claims on the spot

WorkCover accepted
Over 10 years in practice
Health fund claims on the spot

Lower back pain is pain in the lumbar
region, usually caused by a
combination
of muscle imbalance, joint restriction
and load on the discs.
Sciatica is when
that problem irritates the sciatic nerve
and pain travels
down the leg.
Chiropractic care is one of the
treatments used for both,
alongside
exercise and activity modification.

How common lower

back pain is in Australia

About 4.0 million Australians, or 16 per cent
of the population, were living with back
problems
in 2022 according to the Australian Institute of
Health and Welfare, drawing on
the Australian
Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey.

It is more common with age, peaking between
55 and 74. It is also more common outside
the
major cities, at 17 per cent in regional areas
against 15 per cent in the capitals.

What it usually feels like

Lower back pain is caused by muscle imbalance
and
joint dysfunction leading to disc injuries, as a
result of
poor lifestyle, postural stress and trauma.
You may feel
this as stiffness and sharp pain in
the lower back, and in
more extreme cases as pain
down the leg, which is
known as sciatica.

COMMON SIGNS

Stiffness first thing in the morning that eases
as you move

Sharp pain when bending, lifting or twisting

A dull ache that builds through the day

Pain that travels into the buttock, thigh or calf

Pins and needles or numbness down one leg

Difficulty standing up straight after sitting for a while

Lower back pain or sciatica, and
why it matters

Lower Back Pain

Pain stays in the back itself. Usually described as stiffness, aching or a sharp catch when you move. Often worse after sitting or lifting.

Sciatica

Pain travels from the back down the leg, sometimes as far as the foot. Often described as burning, shooting or electric, and may come with pins and needles or numbness.

The two frequently occur together, because
sciatica is usually a back problem
that has started
irritating the nerve. Knowing which one you have
changes how
it is treated, which is why we
examine before we treat.

Book an appointment

When it is worth having
looked at

Most episodes of lower back pain settle within
a few weeks. It is
worth having examined if the
pain has lasted longer than that, if
it keeps
coming back, if it travels down your leg, or if it
is
stopping you sleeping or working.

SEE A DOCTOR PROMPTLY, NOT A
CHIROPRACTOR, IF YOU HAVE

Numbness around the groin or inner
thighs, loss of bladder or bowel
control,
weakness in both legs, or back pain
following a significant fall or
accident.
These are uncommon, but they need
urgent medical
assessment rather than
chiropractic treatment.

SEE A DOCTOR PROMPTLY, NOT A
CHIROPRACTOR, IF YOU HAVE

Numbness around the groin or inner
thighs, loss of bladder or bowel
control,
weakness in both legs, or back pain
following a significant fall or
accident.
These are uncommon, but they need
urgent medical
assessment rather than
chiropractic treatment.

How chiropractic care
is used for it

Manual therapy is often used to relieve pain in the
affected areas,
through a range of adjustments
aimed at mobilising muscles and
joints. The aim is
to restore normal movement to the lower back

and pelvis and reduce the load going through the
tissue that is
causing the pain.

We create a treatment plan for each individual, to
balance the
postural muscles of the pelvis, hips
and lower back. Treatment is
usually combined
with exercise you can do between visits,
because
the exercise is what holds the change.

Who treats you

Treatment is provided by Dr George Diab, founder of The Sport and Health Clinic. He holds a Bachelor of Chiropractic Science and a Masters of Chiropractic Science from Macquarie University and has been in practice for over ten years.

Book an appointment

WorkCover accepted
Over 10 years in practice
Health fund claims on the spot

WorkCover accepted
Over 10 years in practice
Health fund claims on the spot

WorkCover accepted
Over 10 years in practice
Health fund claims on the spot

WorkCover accepted
Over 10 years in practice
Health fund claims on the spot

What happens when you come in

We talk

You tell us what is going on, how long it has been happening, and what makes it worse. We ask about your work setup and how you sleep. An initial consultation runs 40 minutes.

We examine

A physical examination of the neck and upper back to find where movement is restricted, rather than treating the sore spot on its own.

We explain

We tell you what we think is going on and what we would do about it before we do anything. Standard consultations after that run 20 minutes.

Questions we get asked

Lower back pain stays in the back itself. Sciatica is pain that travels down the leg, sometimes as far as the foot, caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve. The two often occur together, and sciatica usually means the problem in the back has started pressing on or irritating the nerve.

In most cases gentle movement is better than complete bed rest, which tends to leave the area stiffer and slower to settle. That said, it depends on what is injured, and some presentations do need a short period of rest first. We will tell you which applies to you after examining you.

Usually not. Most lower back pain and sciatica can be assessed properly through examination, and imaging often shows changes that are not actually causing the pain. We refer for a scan only when the findings suggest it would genuinely change the treatment.

It varies a great deal depending on what is irritating the nerve and how long it has been going on. Rather than quote a number that may not apply to you, we would rather examine you first and give you a realistic answer based on what we find.

Yes, if your policy includes chiropractic cover. We accept all private health funds, and using HiCaps your rebate comes off at the counter so you only pay the gap. We also treat WorkCover NSW patients. Bring your health fund card to your appointment.

No. In Australia you can book directly with a chiropractor without seeing your GP first. A referral is only needed if you are claiming under certain Medicare or insurance arrangements, such as a chronic disease management plan.

WorkCover accepted
Over 10 years in practice
Health fund claims on the spot

WorkCover accepted
Over 10 years in practice
Health fund claims on the spot

WorkCover accepted
Over 10 years in practice
Health fund claims on the spot

WorkCover accepted
Over 10 years in practice
Health fund claims on the spot

Neck pain

Headache and Migraine

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