Piriformis syndrome is a neuromuscular disorder that is caused by tight piriformis muscle. The piriformis muscle is a flat, band-like muscle located in the buttocks near the top of the hip joint. Piriformis syndrome can be associated with or without the underlying Sciatic Nerve compression. The sciatic nerve is a thick and long nerve in the body. It passes alongside or goes through the piriformis muscle, goes down the back of the leg, and eventually branches off into smaller nerves that end in the feet.
In most people, sciatic nerve passes under piriformis muscle, so there are good chances that tight piriformis muscle can cause compression of sciatic nerve and result in sciatic nerve like compression symptoms. This muscle is important in lower body movement as it serves 3 main functions: it helps in stabilizing your hip joint, rotating your thigh bone outside (outer hip rotation), and taking your thigh bone away from the center of the body (hip abduction).
Symptoms:
- 1Piriformis syndrome usually starts with pain, tingling, or numbness in the piriformis muscle region (center of the buttock area)
- 2Pain can be severe in the hip and travel down the length of the sciatic nerve from buttock region to the back thigh, leg and foot (aka called sciatica).
- 3Piriformis muscle area is usually very tender on touch while applying firm pressure directly over piriformis muscle and exacerbates with sitting for long period of time, standing and running.
- 4Pain in the center of the buttock region can also be present when changing positions such as sit to stand or vice-versa
Causes:
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