U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

Sciatica

MedGen UID:
19893
•Concept ID:
C0036396
•
Sign or Symptom
Synonyms: Neuralgia, Sciatic; Neuralgias, Sciatic; Sciatic Neuralgia; Sciatic Neuralgias
SNOMED CT: Sciatica neuralgia (23056005); Sciatica (23056005); Neuralgia-neuritis of sciatic nerve (23056005); Sciatic neuralgia (23056005)
 
HPO: HP:0011868
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0024333

Definition

Pain in the lower back and hip radiating in the distribution of the sciatic nerve. [from HPO]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVSciatica

Professional guidelines

PubMed

A Systematic Review of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Persons With Non-specific Low Back Pain With and Without Radiculopathy: Identification of Best Evidence for Rehabilitation to Develop the WHO's Package of Interventions for Rehabilitation.
Zaina F, Côté P, Cancelliere C, Di Felice F, Donzelli S, Rauch A, Verville L, Negrini S, Nordin M
Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2023 Nov;104(11):1913-1927. Epub 2023 Mar 23 doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2023.02.022. PMID: 36963709
Diagnosis and treatment of sciatica.
Jensen RK, Kongsted A, Kjaer P, Koes B
BMJ 2019 Nov 19;367:l6273. doi: 10.1136/bmj.l6273. PMID: 31744805
Piriformis Syndrome: A Narrative Review of the Anatomy, Diagnosis, and Treatment.
Probst D, Stout A, Hunt D
PM R 2019 Aug;11 Suppl 1:S54-S63. Epub 2019 Jul 22 doi: 10.1002/pmrj.12189. PMID: 31102324

Curated

UK NICE Guideline NG59, Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s: assessment and management, 2020

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

How effective are physiotherapy interventions in treating people with sciatica? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Dove L, Jones G, Kelsey LA, Cairns MC, Schmid AB
Eur Spine J 2023 Feb;32(2):517-533. Epub 2022 Dec 29 doi: 10.1007/s00586-022-07356-y. PMID: 36580149Free PMC Article
Treatment-based classification for low back pain: systematic review with meta-analysis.
Bastos RM, Moya CR, de Vasconcelos RA, Costa LOP
J Man Manip Ther 2022 Aug;30(4):207-227. Epub 2022 Jan 24 doi: 10.1080/10669817.2021.2024677. PMID: 35067217Free PMC Article
Causal Associations of Obesity With the Intervertebral Degeneration, Low Back Pain, and Sciatica: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study.
Zhou J, Mi J, Peng Y, Han H, Liu Z
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021;12:740200. Epub 2021 Dec 8 doi: 10.3389/fendo.2021.740200. PMID: 34956075Free PMC Article
Risk factors for low back pain and sciatica: an umbrella review.
Parreira P, Maher CG, Steffens D, Hancock MJ, Ferreira ML
Spine J 2018 Sep;18(9):1715-1721. Epub 2018 May 21 doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2018.05.018. PMID: 29792997
Surgery versus prolonged conservative treatment for sciatica.
Peul WC, van Houwelingen HC, van den Hout WB, Brand R, Eekhof JA, Tans JT, Thomeer RT, Koes BW; Leiden-The Hague Spine Intervention Prognostic Study Group
N Engl J Med 2007 May 31;356(22):2245-56. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa064039. PMID: 17538084

Diagnosis

Diagnosis and treatment of sciatica.
Jensen RK, Kongsted A, Kjaer P, Koes B
BMJ 2019 Nov 19;367:l6273. doi: 10.1136/bmj.l6273. PMID: 31744805
Sciatica.
Valat JP, Genevay S, Marty M, Rozenberg S, Koes B
Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2010 Apr;24(2):241-52. doi: 10.1016/j.berh.2009.11.005. PMID: 20227645
Piriformis syndrome, diagnosis and treatment.
Kirschner JS, Foye PM, Cole JL
Muscle Nerve 2009 Jul;40(1):10-8. doi: 10.1002/mus.21318. PMID: 19466717
Diagnosis and management of piriformis syndrome: an osteopathic approach.
Boyajian-O'Neill LA, McClain RL, Coleman MK, Thomas PP
J Am Osteopath Assoc 2008 Nov;108(11):657-64. doi: 10.7556/jaoa.2008.108.11.657. PMID: 19011229
Diagnosis and treatment of sciatica.
Koes BW, van Tulder MW, Peul WC
BMJ 2007 Jun 23;334(7607):1313-7. doi: 10.1136/bmj.39223.428495.BE. PMID: 17585160Free PMC Article

Therapy

Surgical versus non-surgical treatment for sciatica: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
Liu C, Ferreira GE, Abdel Shaheed C, Chen Q, Harris IA, Bailey CS, Peul WC, Koes B, Lin CC
BMJ 2023 Apr 19;381:e070730. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2022-070730. PMID: 37076169Free PMC Article
Two manual therapy techniques for management of lumbar radiculopathy: a randomized clinical trial.
Danazumi MS, Bello B, Yakasai AM, Kaka B
J Osteopath Med 2021 Feb 26;121(4):391-400. doi: 10.1515/jom-2020-0261. PMID: 33705612
Benefits and harms of spinal manipulative therapy for the treatment of chronic low back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
Rubinstein SM, de Zoete A, van Middelkoop M, Assendelft WJJ, de Boer MR, van Tulder MW
BMJ 2019 Mar 13;364:l689. doi: 10.1136/bmj.l689. PMID: 30867144Free PMC Article
Core Stability Exercise Versus General Exercise for Chronic Low Back Pain.
Coulombe BJ, Games KE, Neil ER, Eberman LE
J Athl Train 2017 Jan;52(1):71-72. Epub 2016 Nov 16 doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-51.11.16. PMID: 27849389Free PMC Article
Diagnosis and treatment of sciatica.
Koes BW, van Tulder MW, Peul WC
BMJ 2007 Jun 23;334(7607):1313-7. doi: 10.1136/bmj.39223.428495.BE. PMID: 17585160Free PMC Article

Prognosis

Surgery versus Conservative Care for Persistent Sciatica Lasting 4 to 12 Months.
Bailey CS, Rasoulinejad P, Taylor D, Sequeira K, Miller T, Watson J, Rosedale R, Bailey SI, Gurr KR, Siddiqi F, Glennie A, Urquhart JC
N Engl J Med 2020 Mar 19;382(12):1093-1102. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1912658. PMID: 32187469
Diagnosis and treatment of sciatica.
Jensen RK, Kongsted A, Kjaer P, Koes B
BMJ 2019 Nov 19;367:l6273. doi: 10.1136/bmj.l6273. PMID: 31744805
Risk Factors for Low Back Pain: A Population-Based Longitudinal Study.
Shiri R, Falah-Hassani K, Heliövaara M, Solovieva S, Amiri S, Lallukka T, Burdorf A, Husgafvel-Pursiainen K, Viikari-Juntura E
Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2019 Feb;71(2):290-299. doi: 10.1002/acr.23710. PMID: 30044543
Surgical versus conservative treatment for lumbar disc herniation: a prospective cohort study.
Gugliotta M, da Costa BR, Dabis E, Theiler R, Jüni P, Reichenbach S, Landolt H, Hasler P
BMJ Open 2016 Dec 21;6(12):e012938. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012938. PMID: 28003290Free PMC Article
Diagnosis and treatment of sciatica.
Koes BW, van Tulder MW, Peul WC
BMJ 2007 Jun 23;334(7607):1313-7. doi: 10.1136/bmj.39223.428495.BE. PMID: 17585160Free PMC Article

Clinical prediction guides

Surgical versus non-surgical treatment for sciatica: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
Liu C, Ferreira GE, Abdel Shaheed C, Chen Q, Harris IA, Bailey CS, Peul WC, Koes B, Lin CC
BMJ 2023 Apr 19;381:e070730. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2022-070730. PMID: 37076169Free PMC Article
Treatment-based classification for low back pain: systematic review with meta-analysis.
Bastos RM, Moya CR, de Vasconcelos RA, Costa LOP
J Man Manip Ther 2022 Aug;30(4):207-227. Epub 2022 Jan 24 doi: 10.1080/10669817.2021.2024677. PMID: 35067217Free PMC Article
Surgery versus Conservative Care for Persistent Sciatica Lasting 4 to 12 Months.
Bailey CS, Rasoulinejad P, Taylor D, Sequeira K, Miller T, Watson J, Rosedale R, Bailey SI, Gurr KR, Siddiqi F, Glennie A, Urquhart JC
N Engl J Med 2020 Mar 19;382(12):1093-1102. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1912658. PMID: 32187469
Pathologic Basis of Lumbar Radicular Pain.
Dower A, Davies MA, Ghahreman A
World Neurosurg 2019 Aug;128:114-121. Epub 2019 Apr 25 doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.04.147. PMID: 31028982
Surgery versus prolonged conservative treatment for sciatica.
Peul WC, van Houwelingen HC, van den Hout WB, Brand R, Eekhof JA, Tans JT, Thomeer RT, Koes BW; Leiden-The Hague Spine Intervention Prognostic Study Group
N Engl J Med 2007 May 31;356(22):2245-56. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa064039. PMID: 17538084

Recent systematic reviews

Surgical versus non-surgical treatment for sciatica: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
Liu C, Ferreira GE, Abdel Shaheed C, Chen Q, Harris IA, Bailey CS, Peul WC, Koes B, Lin CC
BMJ 2023 Apr 19;381:e070730. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2022-070730. PMID: 37076169Free PMC Article
A Systematic Review of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Persons With Non-specific Low Back Pain With and Without Radiculopathy: Identification of Best Evidence for Rehabilitation to Develop the WHO's Package of Interventions for Rehabilitation.
Zaina F, Côté P, Cancelliere C, Di Felice F, Donzelli S, Rauch A, Verville L, Negrini S, Nordin M
Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2023 Nov;104(11):1913-1927. Epub 2023 Mar 23 doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2023.02.022. PMID: 36963709
How effective are physiotherapy interventions in treating people with sciatica? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Dove L, Jones G, Kelsey LA, Cairns MC, Schmid AB
Eur Spine J 2023 Feb;32(2):517-533. Epub 2022 Dec 29 doi: 10.1007/s00586-022-07356-y. PMID: 36580149Free PMC Article
Treatment-based classification for low back pain: systematic review with meta-analysis.
Bastos RM, Moya CR, de Vasconcelos RA, Costa LOP
J Man Manip Ther 2022 Aug;30(4):207-227. Epub 2022 Jan 24 doi: 10.1080/10669817.2021.2024677. PMID: 35067217Free PMC Article
Physical examination for lumbar radiculopathy due to disc herniation in patients with low-back pain.
van der Windt DA, Simons E, Riphagen II, Ammendolia C, Verhagen AP, Laslett M, Devillé W, Deyo RA, Bouter LM, de Vet HC, Aertgeerts B
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2010 Feb 17;(2):CD007431. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007431.pub2. PMID: 20166095

Supplemental Content

Table of contents

    Clinical resources

    Practice guidelines

    • PubMed
      See practice and clinical guidelines in PubMed. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.
    • Bookshelf
      See practice and clinical guidelines in NCBI Bookshelf. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.

    Curated

    • NICE, 2020
      UK NICE Guideline NG59, Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s: assessment and management, 2020

    Consumer resources

    Reviews

    Related information

    • MeSH
      Related Medical Subject Headings
    • PMC Articles
      Related information in PubMed Central Links
    • PubMed
      Related literature resources in PubMed

    Recent activity

    Clear Turn Off Turn On

    Your browsing activity is empty.

    Activity recording is turned off.

    Turn recording back on

    See more...