Fall Yard Work Without Wrecking Your Back: A Loveland Guide
Raking, aerating, hauling bags of leaves: a Loveland chiropractor’s practical guide to getting through fall yard work without spending October on the couch.
Read the articleThat radiating pain down your leg has a source, and it is almost never the leg. We find where the nerve is actually being irritated and address it at the structural level.
Reviewed by Dr. Brian Flemming, DC · Last reviewed September 2026
Quick answer
Often, yes. Sciatica is irritation of the sciatic nerve, most often starting in the lower back, and when it comes from how the lower spine is moving, chiropractic care can help take the pressure off. An exam shows where the irritation is coming from, so your care is aimed at the source, not just the leg.
2016
2017
2018
2019
2026About This Service
Sciatica is less a diagnosis than a description — pain travelling along the path of the sciatic nerve, from the low back through the buttock and down the leg. What matters clinically is why that nerve is being irritated, because the answer changes the treatment entirely.
It might be a disc pressing where it should not, a misaligned pelvis, degenerative narrowing, or muscular compression. We examine to find out which, rather than treating every leg pain the same way.
What We See Most
Pain travelling from the low back or buttock down the back of the leg.
Pins and needles through the leg, calf or into the foot.
Sciatica typically affects one leg at a time.
Symptoms that worsen after sitting, driving or standing too long.
A leg that feels unreliable, heavy, or prone to giving way.
Nerve symptoms brought on by pregnancy, managed gently.
Our Approach
Most sciatica calms down on its own eventually, which is exactly why it tends to return. The flare settles, people assume it is resolved, and the structural problem that irritated the nerve is still sitting there waiting for the next long drive.
Corrective care aims at that underlying structure. When the mechanics change, the nerve stops being irritated in the first place — a different outcome than waiting out each episode and hoping the gap between them stays long.
We are on North Garfield Avenue in Loveland, about 15 minutes from Fort Collins and 10 from Berthoud. New here? See what to expect on your first visit and fill out your new patient forms online before you come in. Every care plan follows the same three phases of care. Most insurance is accepted, including Medicare; see insurance and payment, or browse every condition we care for.
Research
A few of the published studies behind how we approach this. Research describes groups of people, not a promise for any one person. Your exam tells us what applies to you.
In 192 adults with back-related leg pain, spinal manipulation plus home exercise reduced leg pain more than home exercise alone at 12 weeks, but not at 52 weeks.
Bronfort G, Hondras MA, Schulz CA, et al. Spinal manipulation and home exercise with advice for subacute and chronic back-related leg pain: a trial with adaptive allocation. Ann Intern Med, 2014 · clinical trial.
This network meta-analysis of 122 studies found spinal manipulation improved overall recovery from sciatica versus inactive control or conventional care, though study quality was generally very low.
Lewis RA, Williams NH, Sutton AJ, et al. Comparative clinical effectiveness of management strategies for sciatica: systematic review and network meta-analyses. Spine J, 2015 · systematic review.
Among 40 patients with disc-related sciatica unresponsive to other care, about 60% improved with spinal manipulation as much as surgical patients; those who did not later did well with surgery.
McMorland G, Suter E, Casha S, et al. Manipulation or microdiskectomy for sciatica? A prospective randomized clinical study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther, 2010 · RCT.
From the Blog
Raking, aerating, hauling bags of leaves: a Loveland chiropractor’s practical guide to getting through fall yard work without spending October on the couch.
Read the articleCommon Questions
It varies considerably depending on what is irritating the nerve and how long it has been going on. Some patients notice change within a few weeks; structural correction takes longer. Your examination will give you specific expectations rather than a generic timeline.
Prolonged bed rest is generally not recommended for sciatica. Appropriate movement is usually part of recovery, but which movements help depends on what is causing your symptoms, which is why examination comes first.
Sciatica frequently originates from structural problems in the lower back and pelvis, which is precisely what chiropractic examination and care addresses. We evaluate first to confirm the source.
Progressive weakness, symptoms in both legs, or any loss of bowel or bladder control require immediate medical attention. If you have these, seek emergency care rather than booking an appointment.
Have a different question? Read the full list of patient questions or call us at (970) 800-3486.
New Patients
Tell us how to reach you and we’ll call to get you scheduled. Prefer to talk now? Call us at (970) 800-3486.
$315 value
This discounted service cannot be submitted for third-party reimbursement and is not reimbursable for cash. Not valid with Medicare, workers’ compensation, or personal injury / auto accident claims. Must mention this special when contacting us to receive the rate.
Get Started
You have put this off long enough. One thorough exam tells you what is actually going on and what it will take to fix it. Call us or send a request — we will get you in.