What is piriformis syndrome?

Do you have discomfort in your buttock that won’t go away? And you’ve tried everything, including ice, heat, and massage, but nothing works. This discomfort of soreness around the back of your hips might be caused by piriformis syndrome.

Piriformis syndrome is a disorder characterized by spasms of the piriformis muscle in the buttock area, resulting in buttock pain. This piriformis muscle inflammation also irritates or compresses the surrounding sciatic nerve, causing pain, numbness, and tingling throughout the back of the thigh, leg, and into the foot, similar to sciatica discomfort.  Pain is also aggravated by activities such as extended sitting, long-distance walking, squatting, hip adduction, and internal rotation.

Common causes:

Piriformis syndrome is sometimes known as wallet neuritis since it can arise as a result of sitting on a hard surface while carrying a wallet in the back pocket. Also, twisting and bending when picking up an object from the floor, lifting heavy goods on the stairs, and downhill sprinting are all frequent activities that can develop Piriformis syndrome.

PHYSIOTHERAPY TREATMENT OF PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME INCLUDES:

In our physiotherapy clinic, you will receive a holistic approach to your problems, and treatment will begin with an evaluation of your condition. We have highly advanced Cryo-Air equipment for cold treatment, which elite athletes utilize for speedier recovery and pain management.

Then we do Ultrasound or Combo Therapy.

Our sports physiotherapist will then do Myofascial and soft tissue mobilization.

Passive stretching of the piriformis muscle and other gluteal muscles is the most effective approach to minimize muscular contractions that cause nerve impingement.

Our sports physiotherapists have extensive expertise and training in manual mobilization, and hip joint mobilization is the most effective treatment for pain relief and enhancing the hip joint range of motion.

They also provide chiropractic adjustments.

Exercise for pelvic stability.

Exercising for strength.

Balance training.

Exercising your core stability.

Iontophoresis.

Postural conditioning.

Insoles or orthotics for the feet.

Home exercise program:

• piriformis stretching in supine position 3 reps for a 30-second hold twice a day,
• loop band resisted standing clamps 2 times each day,
• 3 sets of 10 repetitions Bridge twist and reach against loop band tension while abducting the hip,
• glutes foam rolling.

Prevention of Piriformis syndrome: 

• maintain good flexibility of the lower extremity and trunk muscles,
• maintain the strength of the gluteal and abdominal muscles,
• adjust the seat to keep the knees and hips comfortably bent while driving,
• and avoid sitting with a wallet in the back pocket,
• maintaining perfect posture while standing/ lifting/ and sitting,
• do not lift with the back bent, keeping the objects close to the body during lifts.