People look for sciatica massage when a sharp, burning, or electric sensation runs from the low back or hip into the buttock, hamstring, or calf. Massage cannot diagnose a disc injury or replace medical care. What Paul Andersen, NMT can do is assess how the glutes, piriformis, lumbar paraspinals, and hip rotators are loading that chain, then use neuromuscular and myofascial work on the soft-tissue contribution.
What a sciatica-focused session includes
Sessions are clothed, with no oils or draping. Paul starts with how you sit, walk, and bend, then works the tissue that is actually referring, not only the spot that aches. That often means the deep hip rotators, glute medius, and low-back erectors, with pressure you can stay present for rather than bracing against.
This is not a promise to “cure sciatica.” If you have sudden severe pain, progressive weakness, saddle numbness, or bowel or bladder changes, see a physician first. For the many Peninsula clients whose symptoms track with sitting, training load, or an old hip restriction, skilled hands-on work is a practical next step alongside whatever care your doctor has already outlined.
Patterns Paul often sees
Desk-driven referral
Long hours of sitting that shorten the hip flexors and load the piriformis and low back.
Runner and cyclist hips
High-mileage hips that stay tight through the glutes and refer down the leg after a long session.
One-sided compensation
An old ankle, knee, or back injury that quietly changed how you stand and walk.
Between medical visits
Soft-tissue support while you follow a clinician’s plan, not a substitute for that plan.
Explore related services
Neuromuscular Therapy
Trigger-point and NMT work that targets the source of referred pain.
Deep Tissue Massage
Strong, precise work for chronic tension and the demands of serious training.
Neck & Back Pain Massage
Clinical work for desk-driven neck pain and stubborn low-back tightness.
Sports Massage for Runners
Recovery-focused sports massage for calves, hips, and IT-band patterns.
Frequently asked questions
Does massage help sciatica?
It can help when tight hip, glute, or low-back tissue is adding to the referral you feel down the leg. It does not treat every cause of sciatica. Paul will tell you honestly if the pattern looks like something that needs a physician or imaging first.
Is this a medical treatment for a pinched nerve?
No. Andersen Sports Massage is clinical bodywork, not a medical diagnosis or a claim to decompress a nerve. The goal is to change the soft tissue and movement that often travel with sciatic-type symptoms.
Do I need to undress?
No. Work is done clothed, with no oils or draping. Wear flexible shorts or athletic pants and a shirt you can move in.
How many sessions will I need?
A first visit shows how your tissue responds. Some clients feel a useful change after one session; longer-standing patterns usually do better with a short series. Paul will give you a plain assessment before you book more.