**Piriformis Syndrome: Understanding the Basics**
The sensation of pain can strike in various forms, but few are as ‘nagging’ as Piriformis Syndrome (PS).
It’s a condition that hides behind the curtain of chronic buttock and hip pain, playing games with the sciatic nerve!
What’s even more intriguing is that it can affect different people for different reasons. But I wanted to delve into the world of PS today, as there are lots of things you CAN do to get relief.
Let’s explore the secrets of this musculoskeletal issue together and discover the science, symptoms, and solutions that make it tick.
**Definition:**
Piriformis syndrome (PS) is a painful condition marked by buttock or hip pain, often linked to issues in the piriformis muscle (PM). It’s also known as deep gluteal syndrome, extra-spinal sciatica, or wallet neuritis (because people who sit on a wallet on one side can get compression there!)
Interestingly, Women are more commonly diagnosed than men, with a 6:1 ratio, especially in middle-aged patients.
**Anatomy:**
The piriformis muscle (PM) connects the sacral segments S2-S4 to the femur’s greater trochanter, aiding in hip movement. The sciatic nerve, exiting below the PM’s belly, may atomically lay differently in different people, which can make some clients more susseptible to piriformis pain.
**Causes**
– *Primary PS* comes from sciatic nerve placement, and *Secondary PS* arises from trauma, muscle spasms, or compression, often due to macrotrauma from overuse, or biomechanical problems in the lower limbs, lower back, and pelvis.
In both types, the piriformis muscle’s dysfunction can cause sciatic nerve-related pain and discomfort in various body areas.
**Hands on Treatment**
Piriformis syndrome can be relieved with a combination of hands-on work and pilates exercises.
In clinic I find myofascial release creates space, and trigger point work can diminish the taut muscle fibres.
A wonderful technique called “muscle-energy-technique” is very powerful to unlock taut muscles where the client is involved in contracting and releasing the muscles.
But what about when you get home?? We must mobilise and stretch everyday, and create stability a few times a week for long term relief.
This is a snippet from this months “foot to core” series in my online library. You too can have access to this guided series for less than the price of a coffee each week 🙂
**Home Care for Piriformis Syndrome:**
– **Side-to-side piriformis rolling** use a soft massage ball or spiky ball to sweep across the piriformis, in line with the muscle fibres. Do this daily, gently!
– **Warm baths with epsom salts** for relief. Essential oils like ginger in your bath are also helpful. Check out my consultant site here for ginger oil
**piriformis stretches** like a figure 4 position. Do ask for details on how long to hold stretches and modifications.
– **Side lying leg lift**, up to 30 reps with your leg internally rotated. This is a strengthening exercise and should be done 4 days a week.
**Summary:**
Piriformis syndrome results from buttock trauma, causing inflammation and nerve compression. It manifests as potential low back pain, buttock pain, numbness, and mobility issues. Diagnosis involves a thorough assessment, and treatment may require a multidisciplinary approach of hands-on work, myo-fascial release and pilates exercises.
Whilst my 1:1s are full for 2023, I do have a guided “foot to core” series and a “Happy Hip” plan in my online video library. I can sign-post you to the exact series when you sign up to the online library. Remember you can try it out for FREE for 3 days. Check it all out here.
Take care xx
