The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body; it starts in your low back and runs all the way down your leg to your feet.  A person who suffers from sciatica has irritation of this nerve.  The person who suffers from this will usually feel pain that starts in their low back and runs all the way down their leg.  Any spot along the length of the nerve that is being compressed or 'pinched' is going to contribute to the level of sciatic pain and irritation. 

The sciatica is often caused by joint imbalances or disc problems in the low back which is where the sciatic nerve first exits the spine.  However, the nerve can be entrapped anywhere along the length of the leg in between the many muscles and fascia that it passes through.  The entire length of the nerve should be treated for proper recovery.

Depending on the exact cause of the sciatica, one of the best treatments for it will include chiropractic manipulation and Active Release.  Click on these hyperlinks for more details about these techniques.