Common Symptoms

• Radiating pain in the arm or leg

• Numbness or tingling in the affected limb

• Muscle weakness in a specific distribution

• Reduced reflexes and functional limitations

Goals of Physiotherapy

• Reduce pain and inflammation

• Improve spinal alignment and posture

• Restore nerve gliding and mobility

• Strengthen muscles and restore functional activities

Physiotherapy Treatments

1. Pain Relief Techniques

• Ice/Heat Therapy: To reduce acute pain and stiffness

• TENS: For pain modulation and nerve irritation control

• Soft tissue massage and gentle mobilization

2. Nerve Gliding Exercises

• Targeted nerve mobilization to reduce compression and irritation

• Upper or lower limb nerve gliding depending on the affected nerve root

3. Stretching Exercises

• Spinal and surrounding muscle stretches

• Hamstrings, hip flexors, and cervical muscles flexibility improvement

4. Strengthening Exercises

After pain control:

• Strengthen core and paraspinal muscles

• Strengthen upper or lower limb muscles to restore function

• Postural stability and functional strengthening exercises

5. Postural and Ergonomic Training

• Daily activity and workstation modifications to prevent recurrence

• Maintain correct posture and spinal alignment

Frequency and Duration

• Physiotherapy sessions 2–5 times per week depending on severity

• Daily home exercise program adherence is essential

• Functional recovery is usually achieved within 4–12 weeks depending on nerve involvement