Sciatica Physical Therapy in Mineola, NY

MULLIGAN CONCEPT

Sciatica

Sciatica is pain that shoots from the low back or buttock down the back of the leg, usually because a nerve in the lower spine is irritated. At Enhanced Physical Therapy in Mineola, we treat it with Mulligan spinal mobilization with leg movement, the Bent Leg Raise and SNAGs, combined with exercise, to calm the nerve and get you moving again.

Certified Mulligan Practitioner Over 10 Years of Experience

Our clinics director is a Certified Mulligan Practitioner (CMP) with over a decade
of experience using this evidence-based approach. Each treatment is customized to
your specific diagnosis and movement limitations to achieve optimal outcomes.

Common signs of sciatica

Pain from the low back or buttock down the back of the thigh, sometimes below the knee
Burning, tingling or numbness in the leg or foot
Pain worse with sitting, bending, coughing or sneezing
A leg that feels weak or heavy
Trouble straightening the leg or bending to tie your shoes

What causes it

Sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis. The nerve can be irritated by a disc, by narrowing where the nerve leaves the spine, or by stiff and sensitive joints. We look at what is driving your symptoms rather than trying to confirm a disc problem.

How we examine it

Before any hands-on treatment, we ask about your health and screen for anything that needs a doctor first. We test nerve mobility with a straight leg raise and slump test, check strength, reflexes and sensation, and assess back movement. Then we apply a gentle glide to a spinal level while the leg moves. If the leg moves further with less pain, we have a treatment direction.

Mulligan techniques we use

Spinal Mobilization with Leg Movement (SMWLM). While you lie on your side, Dr. Kurian holds a gentle sideways glide on one low back vertebra as your leg is raised. The movement that used to send pain down your leg should feel freer.
Bent Leg Raise. Gentle traction along the thigh with the knee bent, useful when a straight leg raise is too painful.
Traction Straight Leg Raise. A sustained pull along the leg as it is raised.
Lumbar SNAGs. Sustained glides while you bend, later taught as a self-treatment.

What the research says

In a double-blind randomized trial of 60 patients (Satpute et al. 2019), adding spinal mobilization with leg movement to exercise improved leg pain, back pain, disability and straight leg raise, short and long term. A 2025 meta-analysis of 21 trials also found it reduced pain. Many trials were small, so we treat Mulligan as one part of a plan, not the whole answer.

What else is in your treatment plan

Your plan pairs Mulligan techniques with nerve gliding, core and hip strengthening, walking and advice on sitting, sleeping and lifting.

How long recovery takes

Many people notice a change in leg pain within the first few visits. Most sciatica settles over 6 to 12 weeks with the right plan.

When to see a doctor first

Call your doctor, or get urgent care, if you have any of the following:

Numbness in the groin, inner thighs or saddle area, or new bladder or bowel problems: go to the emergency room
Weakness that is getting worse, such as foot drop
Sciatica in both legs at once
Fever, unexplained weight loss or a history of cancer
Severe pain not eased by any position

Sciatica treatment near Mineola

Enhanced Physical Therapy is at 137 Willis Ave, Suite 100, Mineola, NY 11501, a short walk from NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island. We see patients from Mineola, Garden City, Williston Park, New Hyde Park, Carle Place, Westbury, Albertson and Manhasset, and across central Nassau County.

Frequently asked questions

How long does sciatica last?

Most episodes improve within 6 to 12 weeks. Physical therapy aims to shorten that and reduce the chance of it coming back.

Should I walk with sciatica?

Usually yes. Short, regular walks within comfort generally help more than bed rest.

Does Mulligan therapy hurt?

It should not. Mulligan techniques must stay pain-free. If something hurts, we change it.

Do I need a referral in New York?

New York allows direct access to physical therapy for a limited number of visits. Some insurance plans still need a prescription, so call us to check.

Written and clinically reviewed by Jacob Kurian, PT, MSPT, CMP, DPT, Certified Mulligan Practitioner, Enhanced Physical Therapy, Mineola NY. Last updated October 14, 2026.

Move Better, Feel Better

If this is limiting your work, sleep or activity, call Enhanced Physical Therapy at (516) 833-5880 to book an evaluation with Jacob Kurian, Certified Mulligan Practitioner. Mulligan treatment may help reduce pain and improve movement, and we will tell you honestly what to expect.