Who gets sciatica?
Sciatica is a relatively common condition with a lifetime incidence (the number of individuals that have experienced sciatica at some point in their lives) varying from 13% to 40%. The incidence of sciatica is related to age. Sciatica is rarely seen before the age of 20 and it most often occurs in people in their fifties. In addition, there may be a genetic link with the development of sciatica. It has been shown that the first-degree relatives of people affected by sciatica have a greater risk of developing it themselves. Other identified risk factors are largely work-related and include: awkward working position, working in a flexed or twisted trunk position, or working with the hand above the shoulder. Heavy amounts of driving and smoking have also been linked with sciatica. It has been shown that neither gender nor weight has an influence on the development of sciatica, although being overweight is often associated with low back pain in general. For males in the 50-64 year range, b
