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Conditions We Treat

Lower Back Pain
& Sciatica

Drug-free, hands-on relief for lower back pain and sciatic nerve pain — addressing the root cause so you can move freely and stay pain-free for good.

Book an Appointment → Call or Text 650-735-1716
✓ 88+ Five-Star Reviews
✓ No Drugs or Surgery
✓ 16+ Years Treating Back Pain & Sciatica
✓ Serving San Mateo Since 2010
Lower Back Pain & Sciatica

Real relief, real causes —
not just masked symptoms

Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek care — and one of the most undertreated. Over 80% of Americans will experience it at some point, yet many settle for pain management instead of getting to the actual cause. At High Amplitude Health, we do things differently.

Whether your back pain is from a recent injury, years of desk work, or a sciatic nerve being irritated by tight muscles or a disc issue, our approach combines chiropractic spinal adjusting, Active Release Therapy, and targeted soft tissue work to resolve the underlying dysfunction — not just ease the discomfort temporarily.

Sciatica — sharp, burning, or radiating pain that travels from the low back through the hip and down the leg — is often caused by muscular compression of the nerve, not a serious spinal condition. That's good news: it means hands-on therapy works extremely well, and most patients see meaningful improvement within just a few visits.

Office worker with lower back pain — High Amplitude Health San Mateo
Drug-Free Relief
Chiropractic · ART · Soft tissue therapy
How We Treat It

A complete approach for
back pain & sciatica

◎
Chiropractic spinal adjusting
Gentle, precise adjustments restore spinal alignment, reduce nerve compression, and improve joint mobility. For both lower back pain and sciatica, this is often what provides the most immediate relief.
Especially effective when pain stems from joint restriction, disc compression, or structural misalignment causing nerve irritation.
◈
Active Release Therapy (ART)
ART targets the scar tissue, adhesions, and chronically tight muscles that compress the sciatic nerve and restrict low back movement. It's one of the most effective tools for nerve entrapment conditions.
The piriformis, glutes, and hamstrings are common culprits in sciatica. ART releases these muscles directly — reducing nerve pressure fast.
⟳
Myofascial & trigger point therapy
Sustained pressure on tight muscle bands deactivates spasm and reduces the referred pain patterns that make back pain and sciatica feel widespread and hard to pinpoint.
Many patients are surprised to find that releasing trigger points in the glutes and low back provides as much relief as adjusting the spine directly.
▷
Assisted stretch therapy
Tight hip flexors, hamstrings, and glutes are often the real drivers of both low back pain and sciatic nerve irritation. Guided stretching releases this tension in ways you can't achieve on your own.
We also teach you which stretches to do at home — so you continue improving between visits and prevent the pain from returning.
◇
Core & movement retraining
Weak or poorly activated core muscles leave the lumbar spine unprotected. We introduce targeted exercises to rebuild spinal stability and retrain movement patterns that protect your back long-term.
This is the step most other clinics skip — and it's why pain returns after treatment elsewhere. Stability is what makes relief last.
▸
Vibration therapy
Targeted vibration calms hyperactive muscles along the lumbar spine and sciatic nerve pathway — reducing tightness, improving circulation, and accelerating tissue recovery between sessions.
Particularly useful for patients with chronic muscle guarding around the low back who can't tolerate deep manual pressure initially.
Who It Helps

What's causing
your pain?

Lower back pain and sciatica have many causes — and identifying the right one is the key to lasting relief. Here are the most common contributors we see and treat every day.

01

Muscle strain & ligament injury

A sudden movement, awkward lift, or over-exertion can strain the muscles and ligaments of the low back. These injuries respond well to soft tissue therapy and guided rehab exercise.

02

Piriformis syndrome & sciatic nerve compression

The piriformis muscle in the hip can tighten and compress the sciatic nerve — causing radiating pain, numbness, or tingling down the leg. ART is particularly effective at releasing this muscle.

03

Poor posture & prolonged sitting

Hours at a desk create postural imbalances that overload the lumbar spine, tighten the hip flexors, and weaken the core — a combination that leads directly to chronic low back pain.

04

Disc herniation or bulge

A herniated disc can press on the spinal nerves, producing sharp or radiating pain. Chiropractic adjusting combined with soft tissue work can relieve pressure and restore function without surgery in many cases.

05

Weak or inactive core muscles

Without proper core support, the lumbar spine absorbs more load than it's designed to handle — leading to disc, joint, and muscle pain with even ordinary daily movements.

06

Overuse & repetitive loading

Athletes, laborers, and active individuals who repeatedly load the spine without adequate recovery develop muscle fatigue, joint irritation, and inflammation that compounds over time.

07

Stress-related muscle tension

Chronic stress causes involuntary tightening of the back, neck, and shoulder muscles. Over time this sustained tension restricts movement and contributes directly to low back pain and discomfort.

You don't have to
live with this pain.

Most patients with lower back pain and sciatica notice meaningful improvement within just a few visits. Dr. John will identify exactly what's driving your pain — and fix it at the source, not just the surface.

3–6
Average sessions to resolution
88+
Five-star Google reviews

Serving San Mateo, Burlingame, Foster City, Redwood City, Belmont & surrounding areas since 2010.

Book Your First Visit →
About Dr. John Blenio

16 years treating
back pain & sciatica

Dr. John Blenio has been treating lower back pain and sciatica in San Mateo for over 16 years. His approach goes beyond what a standard chiropractor or physical therapist offers — combining spinal adjusting, Active Release Therapy, myofascial release, and corrective exercise into a single, integrated plan that addresses all the layers contributing to your pain.

Lower back pain is rarely just one thing. It's usually a combination of joint restriction, muscular tightness, and poor movement patterns — often with a nerve component like sciatica layered in. Dr. John's training allows him to assess and treat all of these simultaneously, rather than addressing them in isolation or referring you elsewhere.

Whether your pain started last week or has been with you for years, the goal is the same: identify the true cause, correct it with hands-on care, and give you the tools to keep it from coming back.

✓
Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation 16+ years of precision adjusting for lumbar and sciatic conditions
✓
ART Certified — Spine & Lower Extremity Targeting nerve entrapments, piriformis, and soft tissue adhesions
✓
Corrective Exercise & Rehab Specialist Core retraining and movement correction to prevent recurrence
Dr. John Blenio — Lower Back Pain & Sciatica Specialist, High Amplitude Health San Mateo
Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about
lower back pain & sciatica

How do I know if my pain is sciatica or just a back strain? +
Back strain typically stays localized — it hurts in a specific area of your low back. Sciatica involves the sciatic nerve and usually produces pain, tingling, numbness, or burning that radiates from the lower back or hip down through the buttock and into the leg. If your pain travels down one side of your leg, sciatica is likely involved. Dr. John will assess both at your first visit.
Can chiropractic care treat a herniated disc? +
Yes, in many cases. Chiropractic adjusting can relieve the nerve pressure caused by a herniated disc without surgery. Combined with soft tissue therapy to release surrounding muscle tension, most patients with disc-related pain improve significantly with conservative care. Dr. John will let you know at your first visit whether your condition is appropriate for chiropractic treatment or requires a referral.
How quickly will I feel better? +
Many patients feel noticeable improvement after just one or two sessions. For acute pain, relief often comes quickly — sometimes within the first visit. Chronic back pain or long-standing sciatica typically requires more sessions, but most patients see meaningful progress within 3–6 visits. Dr. John will give you an honest timeline based on your specific condition.
Is treatment painful? +
Chiropractic adjustments are generally painless and often immediately relieving. Active Release Therapy and myofascial work can produce a "hurts good" sensation as tight muscles are released, but the intensity is always adjusted to your comfort level. Dr. John works with you — not on you — and communication throughout treatment is encouraged.
Do I need an X-ray or MRI before my first visit? +
No. Dr. John will conduct a thorough evaluation at your first visit and can determine the likely cause and appropriate treatment from clinical assessment alone. If imaging is indicated — for example, to rule out a fracture or assess a suspected serious disc injury — he'll let you know and refer you accordingly.
My back pain keeps coming back. Can you help? +
Recurring back pain is usually a sign that the root cause was never fully addressed — only the symptoms were treated. Dr. John's approach identifies the underlying drivers (joint restriction, soft tissue adhesions, core weakness, movement dysfunction) and corrects them, rather than providing temporary relief that wears off. Many patients with years of recurring pain find lasting resolution with this approach.
Will I need to keep coming back forever? +
The goal is lasting relief, not dependency. Most patients complete an active care plan and are discharged with a home exercise routine to maintain their results. Some patients choose periodic maintenance visits — especially if they have physically demanding jobs or active lifestyles — but this is entirely optional, not a requirement.

Back pain doesn't have to
be your new normal.

Join hundreds of San Mateo patients who've found lasting relief from lower back pain and sciatica — without drugs, injections, or surgery — using Dr. John's hands-on, root-cause approach.

Schedule an Appointment

Or call / text us: 650-735-1716