You finally sit down for a rest... and your bum starts to ache. Then your leg tingles. Before long, it feels like someone’s zapping you with a live wire down your backside and into your calf.
Yep — that’s sciatica talking. And it hates sitting.

But why does something so simple make it feel so much worse?

Let’s break it down — and show you how to stop your chair from being the enemy.

What’s Really Going On With Sciatica?

First off: sciatica isn’t a diagnosis, it’s a symptom. It’s caused by irritation or pressure on the sciatic nerve — the big one that runs from your lower back, through your bum, and all the way down your leg.

That irritation can come from:

• A herniated disc

• Tight glutes or piriformis muscle

• A stiff lower back

• Poor posture and long hours of sitting

So if you’ve been parked at a desk, behind the wheel, or on the sofa — your body’s position might be squishing that nerve without you even realising it.

Why Sitting Makes It Worse

When you sit — especially for long periods — a few things happen that sciatica absolutely hates:

🔹 Compression

Your bum muscles press directly on the sciatic nerve, especially if your pelvis isn’t in a good position. That pressure builds over time and sets off that familiar pain.

🔹 Poor Posture

Sitting with slouched shoulders or a tucked-under pelvis (which most of us do without thinking) rounds the lower spine and adds strain to the discs. This can trigger or worsen nerve irritation.

🔹 Inactivity

Sitting for too long turns your glutes off and lets your hip flexors tighten up. That combo pulls on your pelvis and makes everything around the sciatic nerve tighter and more aggravated.

So even though sitting feels “easy,” it puts your body in a position that keeps sciatica on full alert.

Here’s What You Can Do About It

Good news: you’re not stuck (literally).
Here’s what we teach at our Active Recovery Clinic in Glasgow to help ease the pain and get you moving well again:

1. Change How You Sit

You don’t need a fancy ergonomic throne — just a few small tweaks:

• Sit tall with feet flat on the floor

• Avoid crossing your legs

• Keep your knees just below your hips

• Use a small cushion behind your lower back if needed

2. Get Up Often (Seriously, Set a Timer)

Aim to stand and move every 30–45 minutes. Even a quick walk to the kitchen or a stretch at your desk helps reset your posture and ease nerve pressure.

3. Try These Simple Movements

At Sports Life Work, we recommend a few gentle exercises that most people can do safely at home:

• Seated sciatic nerve glides (gentle and pain-free!)

• Standing hip flexor stretches

• Glute bridges to wake up sleepy bum muscles

Want these tailored to your body? That’s what we do best at our Glasgow Sports Therapy Specialist clinic — customised care, not cookie-cutter plans.

4. Book in for Hands-On Therapy

Sometimes the nerve needs a little extra help to settle down.
Our team uses a mix of Holistic Physiotherapy in Glasgow, hands-on treatment, and movement-based rehab to release the root cause — not just mask the pain.

We look at how your whole body is moving and help you fix what’s causing the nerve irritation in the first place. Because sciatica is rarely just about one spot.

It’s Not “Just the Way You Are”

We hear this all the time:

“I’ve had it for years, it flares up when I sit too long. I just deal with it.”

But here’s the truth: sciatica doesn’t have to be your normal.
Your body’s incredibly adaptable — it just needs the right support, movement, and treatment to feel better.

We’ve helped loads of people walk into our clinic stiff and limping… and walk out feeling lighter, looser, and way more in control of their body.

Ready to Sit Comfortably Again?

If sitting is making your sciatica worse, let’s fix it from the source — not just put a cushion under it.

At Sports Life Work, we’re here to help you move better, sit comfortably, and ditch the nerve pain for good with personalised injury treatment that actually works.

📍Visit us at our Active Recovery Clinic in Glasgow or book your first session today.