Case-series · July 28, 2026

Chiropractic Management of Sciatica: A Retrospective Case Series from a Private Practice in Newark, DE

Abstract

Background: Sciatica, characterized by radiating leg pain originating from the lumbar spine, significantly impacts quality of life. This study evaluates the outcomes of chiropractic care for patients with sciatica. Methods: A retrospective case series was conducted at Pure Wellness Chiropractic in Newark, DE. Data were extracted from the records of nine de-identified patients with a diagnosis of sciatica who had undergone a course of chiropractic treatment. The primary outcome measure was patient-reported pain reduction, calculated from initial and final numeric pain scores. Results: The cohort (n=9) experienced a mean pain reduction of 87% (median 84%). Patients reported significant functional improvements, including the ability to return to running, sleep through the night, and perform activities of daily living without pain. Care plans were multimodal, incorporating techniques such as spinal decompression, flexion-distraction, and diversified adjustments. Conclusions: The findings suggest that a tailored, multimodal chiropractic approach may provide substantial pain relief and functional improvement for patients with sciatica. These results, while promising, are from a small, uncontrolled series and warrant further investigation through more rigorous controlled trials.

Methods

This study employed a retrospective case-series design to evaluate patient outcomes at a single private chiropractic practice, Pure Wellness Chiropractic in Newark, DE. Data were compiled from existing patient records. Inclusion criteria for this series required a documented history of care for sciatica, with recorded pre-treatment and post-treatment pain scores. A total of nine de-identified patient cases met these criteria and were included for analysis. The primary outcome measure was the percentage reduction in patient-reported pain, calculated from initial and final pain scores documented on a 0-10 numeric rating scale (NRS). Qualitative data on functional improvements were also extracted from patient narratives and clinical notes. Treatment protocols were not standardized but were tailored to each patient's specific clinical presentation by the clinic's providers, including Dr. Eric Marks, Dr. Justin Dietrich, Dr. Jessica Cortellino, and Dr. Joelle Renaud. The therapeutic modalities used were consistent with the clinic's scope of practice and included Diversified, Thompson, Gonstead, Sacro Occipital Technique (SOT), Activator, extremity adjustments, myofascial release, Cox Distraction (flexion-distraction), and rehabilitative exercise. Data analysis consisted of calculating the mean and median pain reduction for the cohort and summarizing representative case details. Given the retrospective nature of the study, there was no control group, and data were limited to what was available in the clinical charts.

Discussion

The outcomes from this case series suggest that a multimodal chiropractic approach can be effective in reducing pain and improving function for patients with sciatica. The cohort's mean pain reduction of 87% represents a clinically significant improvement. This level of relief, achieved through non-invasive means, is a promising finding, particularly given that sciatica can be a persistent and challenging condition to manage. One patient's file (Case 2) noted that previous physiotherapy and cortisone injections had failed to provide adequate relief, suggesting that chiropractic care may offer a viable alternative or adjunctive therapy for refractory cases. The treatment protocols were individualized but consistently involved a combination of spinal manipulation (e.g., Diversified, drop-table), specialized techniques like flexion-distraction and spinal decompression, and active care such as therapeutic exercise. This multimodal strategy likely addresses the condition's complex pathophysiology by aiming to reduce nerve root compression via decompression and improved joint mobility, decrease local inflammation through enhanced circulation and movement, and restore functional strength and stability with rehabilitation. The reported functional gains, such as returning to running, sleeping soundly, and engaging in yard work without flare-ups, are arguably as important as the pain reduction itself, as they reflect a tangible improvement in patients' quality of life. While these results are encouraging, they must be interpreted within the context of the study's limitations.

Limitations

This study has several inherent limitations. First, its retrospective case-series design precludes the ability to establish causality; the observed improvements cannot be definitively attributed to the chiropractic intervention alone, as the natural history of the condition and placebo effects are potential confounding factors. Second, the absence of a control group prevents comparison against no treatment or other forms of care. Third, the findings are from a single chiropractic clinic, which may limit the generalizability of the results to other patient populations, settings, or practitioners with different therapeutic approaches. Fourth, the primary outcome measure relied on self-reported pain scores, which are subjective. Objective functional measures were not systematically collected. Finally, there is a risk of selection bias, as this series includes only patients who completed a course of care and for whom outcome data were available, potentially excluding those who did not respond to treatment or discontinued care.