Ever experience pain in the buttocks that radiates down the back of the leg?
Ever experience pain in the buttocks that radiates down the back of the leg?
Piriformis Syndrome is a neuromusculoskeletal condition that involves compression and/or irritation of the Sciatic Nerve by the Piriformis Muscle. The piriformis muscle is a deep gluteal muscle that externally rotates the hip (opens the hip and turns the toes out). Typically the sciatic nerve runs underneath the piriformis muscle, but there are anatomic variations where the sciatic nerve runs directly through the piriformis muscle, or both above and below it. When the piriformis muscle is spasmed or tight, it can compress and irritate the sciatic nerve, causing the radiating pain down the leg. This compression is caused by long durations of seated posture, falling on the buttocks, long distance biking, or poor sleeping posture. The pain is typically worse when seated, squatting, or with internal rotation of the hip.
How can Chiropractic help?
A tight/spasmed piriformis muscle can pull on the pelvic bones causing rotation within the pelvis. Chiropractic adjustments to the pelvis correct the misalignments and allows the muscles of the gluteal region to relax and relieve pain. There are also stretches we can show you to stretch and relax the piriformis muscle to relieve the compression and irritation on the sciatic nerve.