Piriformis Syndrome
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The piriformis is a flat muscle located in the buttocks, near the top of the hip. It is important for rotating the legs away from the body (abduction), stabilizing the hips, and keeping balanced. The sciatic nerve is the largest and longest nerve in the human body, starting in the lower back, travelling through the buttocks, and running down the lower leg. This nerve passes in under the piriformis muscle, and in some individuals fibers of the nerve may even pass directly through the piriformis!
When the piriformis muscle is very tight, it may compress the sciatic nerve. This results in tingling, numbness, pain, and tenderness in the buttocks and radiating down the leg. This pain can be triggered from running, sitting for extended periods, or any activity that may activate the piriformis muscle. The pain can be quite debilitating, with some individuals reporting an inability to sleep or find a comfortable stance. Often times there are issues in both the low back and in the piriformis and this can lead to compression of the nerve in more than one location.
Additionally, trigger points (small knots in muscles that send or “refer” pain to other areas of the body) can cause symptoms similar to that of sciatica or piriformis syndrome.
Thankfully all our therapists at Granville Physio will be able to find the true cause of your pain. Your therapist will be able to use shockwave therapy and tailored exercises to relieve the compression on the sciatic nerve, which means no more pain! In fact, studies have shown that in some cases, a complete absence of pain and symptoms are reported after only four sessions!
When the piriformis muscle is very tight, it may compress the sciatic nerve. This results in tingling, numbness, pain, and tenderness in the buttocks and radiating down the leg. This pain can be triggered from running, sitting for extended periods, or any activity that may activate the piriformis muscle. The pain can be quite debilitating, with some individuals reporting an inability to sleep or find a comfortable stance. Often times there are issues in both the low back and in the piriformis and this can lead to compression of the nerve in more than one location.
Additionally, trigger points (small knots in muscles that send or “refer” pain to other areas of the body) can cause symptoms similar to that of sciatica or piriformis syndrome.
Thankfully all our therapists at Granville Physio will be able to find the true cause of your pain. Your therapist will be able to use shockwave therapy and tailored exercises to relieve the compression on the sciatic nerve, which means no more pain! In fact, studies have shown that in some cases, a complete absence of pain and symptoms are reported after only four sessions!
