Back pain and sciatica in Elstree and Borehamwood
A twinge lifting the shopping, a stiff back after a long drive on the A1, or pain shooting down your leg. Here’s what really helps and how our two WD6 clinics can get you moving again.
★★★★★ 5.0 from 150 Google reviews across our two WD6 clinics
Quick answer: Most back pain and sciatica improves with the right advice, staying active and a targeted exercise programme. About three in four people with new sciatica improve within four weeks, but up to 30% still have symptoms a year later, so getting the right plan early matters. BOOST PHYSIO has two clinics in WD6: Elstree, inside The Wellington Hospital Elstree Waterfront outpatient centre and Borehamwood, inside Anytime Fitness on Theobald Street. Borehamwood usually has the most availability.
Two clinics, one team in WD6
Borehamwood
Anytime Fitness, Borehamwood Shopping Park, Theobald Street, WD6 4PR
About six minutes’ walk from Elstree and Borehamwood station, with gym space for your rehab. Usually the best availability. Michael Bolger, Harry Fountain, Abbiher Banfield and Jolene Sher.
Elstree
The Wellington Hospital Elstree Waterfront Outpatient Centre, Beaufort House, Elstree Road, WD6 3BS
Free parking on site and close links with the consultants who work there. Jolene Sher and Catriona Benson.
Same team
Shared notes, mentoring and training
Both clinics are part of BOOST PHYSIO, so your notes and plan follow you if you need to switch clinic or see another physio.
Our Elstree clinic is often fully booked, so if you want to be seen quickly we’ll usually suggest Borehamwood. It’s the same team and the same standard of care, just a few minutes down the road.
Why your back hurts (and why that’s usually reassuring)
For most people, back pain isn’t a sign of serious damage. It’s often a mix of stiff, sensitive joints and muscles, a sudden change in what you’ve been doing, poor sleep and stress. Scans frequently show changes that are completely normal for your age, which is why we rarely need one to get you better.
Back pain does tend to come back, though. A review in the BMJ found that most people improve rapidly within weeks, but nearly three quarters had at least one recurrence within a year. That’s why we focus on getting you strong, not just out of pain.
Stretches our physios recommend for back pain
Three exercises to ease sciatica down the leg
Sciatica: pain that travels down your leg
Sciatica is pain from an irritated nerve in the lower back, often from a disc bulge. It can feel like burning, shooting or electric pain down the buttock and leg, sometimes with pins and needles.
It’s frightening, but the outlook is usually good. In trials, around half of people with new sciatica improved within ten days and about three quarters within four weeks. Up to 30% still have pain a year on and they’re the people who benefit most from a structured rehab plan.
Your physio will check the nerve, your strength and your reflexes, help you find positions that ease the pain and build you back up gradually.
~75%
of people with new sciatica report improvement within four weeks.
Koes et al, BMJ 2007
Up to 30%
still have sciatica symptoms a year or more later.
Koes et al, BMJ 2007
73%
of people with acute low back pain had at least one recurrence within 12 months.
Pengel et al, BMJ 2003
How we treat back pain and sciatica in WD6
- A thorough assessment: we check for red flags, test the nerves and find what’s really driving your pain
- Hands-on treatment: spinal mobilisation and soft tissue work to ease pain and stiffness
- Exercise you can actually do: from gentle mobility to gym-based strength, matched to where you are
- Acupuncture and dry needling: where it suits you, to help calm pain
- Pilates-based rehab: Jolene is an APPI trained Pilates instructor
- Fast access to consultants: if you need a scan or injection, we work closely with spinal consultants
I am a positive passionate physio who loves what I do!
Jolene Sher, Specialist Physiotherapist, from her BOOST PHYSIO profile
Seek urgent medical help (A&E or 999) if you have back pain with:
- Numbness around your bottom, genitals or inner thighs (saddle area)
- New difficulty passing urine, or loss of bladder or bowel control
- Weakness in both legs, or a foot that is getting weaker
- Back pain with fever, unexplained weight loss or a history of cancer
- Severe pain after a fall or accident
These can be signs of cauda equina syndrome or another serious problem that needs emergency care.
Back pain or sciatica? Let’s get you moving
Same day appointments at Borehamwood and Elstree, seven days a week.
What WD6 patients say
★★★★★
“Went for lower back issue and received great help from Jolene here. She was very helpful and considerate with loads of useful advice.”
Darryl F., Google review, Borehamwood
★★★★★
“With his 10 session treatment and my daily exercises, I was back to normal in 3 months.”
Gabriel I., Google review, Elstree
★★★★★
“Hands on, exercises and pain management. Already more flexible and stronger! Thoroughly recommended.”
Jason S., Google review, Borehamwood
Your Elstree and Borehamwood physios
Jolene Sher
Specialist Physiotherapist, Elstree and Borehamwood
Special interest in back and neck conditions and surgery, APPI Pilates and hydrotherapy. BSc Physiotherapy, University of the Witwatersrand.
Michael Bolger
Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist, Borehamwood
Over 15 years in elite sport and private practice, most recently Head of Medical at Northampton Town Football Club.
Abbiher Banfield
Senior Physiotherapist, Borehamwood and Mill Hill
Combines manual therapy, acupuncture and tailored rehab with a holistic approach, drawing on a background in elite basketball.
Harry Fountain
Senior Physiotherapist, Borehamwood and Hampstead Garden Suburb
Combines hands-on treatment with strength and conditioning and knows from his own surgeries how hard rehab can be.
Catriona Benson
Senior Physiotherapist, Elstree
BSc Sports Therapy and MSc Physiotherapy, with special interests in sports injuries, pregnancy-related conditions and pelvic health.
Watch: back pain advice from our physios
Short videos from the BOOST PHYSIO team. Tap to play.
Exercises for a slipped disc and sciatica
Core exercises to help prevent back pain
Taping for sudden back pain or spasm
Abbiher at our Borehamwood clinic
| Borehamwood clinic | Anytime Fitness, Borehamwood Shopping Park, Theobald Street, Borehamwood WD6 4PR |
|---|---|
| Elstree clinic | The Wellington Hospital Elstree Waterfront Outpatient Centre, Beaufort House, Elstree Road, Borehamwood WD6 3BS (free parking) |
| Physios | Jolene Sher, Michael Bolger, Abbiher Banfield, Harry Fountain and Catriona Benson |
| Conditions | Low back pain, sciatica, slipped disc, back spasm, rehab after spinal surgery |
| Insurance | Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality, WPA and Aviva |
| Referral | Not needed. Book online, call or WhatsApp us |
Why patients choose BOOST PHYSIO
Borehamwood is one of 13 BOOST PHYSIO clinics across North London and Hertfordshire. Being part of a bigger group matters more than most people realise. Our physios train together twice a month and every physio has a dedicated mentor who reviews cases with them, so when you see one of us you get the experience of the whole team behind them.
We combine hands-on treatment with exercise rehabilitation built around you, then adjust it as you progress. That’s what sits behind our promise: Your Best Recovery, Guaranteed.
- Same day appointments, seven days a week
- No GP referral needed to book
- Recognised by Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality, WPA and Aviva
- Strong links with London’s leading consultants and surgeons
Coming from further afield? Our Mill Hill clinic is a short drive down the A1. Read more about our Borehamwood clinic and our Elstree clinic.
Book your WD6 appointment
Borehamwood usually has the earliest availability.
Related reading
Back pain physio in LondonSlipped disc and sciatica physio
Anxious about ankle surgery recovery? Borehamwood physio explains
Neck pain physio in London
Hip pain physio in LondonHow much does private physio cost in London?Your questions answered
Should I see a physio for back pain?
If your back pain isn’t easing after a few days, keeps coming back, or is stopping you working, sleeping or exercising, a physio assessment is worthwhile. We can check for anything serious, explain what’s going on and give you a clear plan.
How long does sciatica take to get better?
Many people improve within a few weeks, with around three quarters better within four weeks in trials. Some take longer, which is when a structured rehab programme makes the biggest difference.
Do I need a scan for back pain?
Usually not. Most back pain can be assessed and treated without a scan. If your physio finds signs that need investigating, we can arrange a quick referral to a spinal consultant.
Should I rest with back pain?
Short rests can ease a flare, but long periods of bed rest slow recovery. Staying gently active, within comfort, is one of the best things you can do.
Which clinic should I book, Elstree or Borehamwood?
Both are part of BOOST PHYSIO and offer the same care. Borehamwood usually has the earliest appointments. Elstree has free on-site parking at the Waterfront outpatient centre.
Where is the Elstree physio clinic?
At The Wellington Hospital Elstree Waterfront Outpatient Centre, Beaufort House, The Waterfront, Elstree Road, Borehamwood WD6 3BS, with free parking.
Where is the Borehamwood physio clinic?
Inside Anytime Fitness at Borehamwood Shopping Park, Theobald Street, WD6 4PR, about six minutes’ walk from Elstree and Borehamwood station.
Can I use health insurance for back pain physio?
Yes. We are recognised by Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality, WPA and Aviva. Get your authorisation code from your insurer before your first visit.
Written and clinically reviewed by Steven Berkman, BSc Physiotherapy (University of Cape Town), HCPC-registered chartered physiotherapist, MCSP, founder of BOOST PHYSIO in 2008, with Jolene Sher, Michael Bolger, Abbiher Banfield, Harry Fountain and Catriona Benson. Last reviewed 28 October 2026.
References
- Koes BW, van Tulder MW, Peul WC. Diagnosis and treatment of sciatica. BMJ 2007;334:1313-1317.
- Pengel LHM et al. Acute low back pain: systematic review of its prognosis. BMJ 2003;327:323.
- NICE NG59. Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s: assessment and management.
This article is general guidance and is not a substitute for an individual physiotherapy assessment. If you have severe or worsening pain, numbness, weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or you feel unwell, seek urgent medical advice.
