If you have been dealing with back pain and sciatica, you have probably spent time wondering what caused it and, more importantly, what you can do about it. Maybe the discomfort started after lifting something heavy, sitting at a desk for years, or after what seemed like a perfectly normal day. For some people, the symptoms come on suddenly. For others, they develop gradually until everyday activities become more difficult. At RPM Physical Therapy, one of the biggest misconceptions we hear is that the place where you feel symptoms is always the place where the problem begins. In reality, back pain and sciatica can be influenced by several different factors, including strength, mobility, posture, movement patterns, and even habits that have built up over many years.