There are many different causes for what many people refer to as sciatica (a sharp pain down the back of the leg), one of which is called piriformis syndrome. This occurs when the piriformis muscle tightens up and irritates the sciatic nerve, the main nerve that innervates the leg. To understand why this occurs we must first look at the anatomy. The piriformis muscle is locate deep to the gluteal muscles, and attaches from the tail bone (the sacrum) to the hip bone (the greater trocanter).
Many people describe the pain as a tightness in their buttock accompanied by shock like pain down the back of their leg, some also experience numbness and paresthias (the same feeling you get when your arm or leg 'falls asleep'). Once a patient has been diagnosed with piriformis syndrome the next step is treatment. Manual therapies, including soft tissue work and stretching will effectively help treat the muscle and decrease the pain symptoms. Below are a few examples of piriformis stretches. If you are having buttock and leg pain it is best to consult your chiropractor or primary care physician before starting to treat the symptoms yourself as there are much more serious conditions that could be causing the same pain.
Many people describe the pain as a tightness in their buttock accompanied by shock like pain down the back of their leg, some also experience numbness and paresthias (the same feeling you get when your arm or leg 'falls asleep'). Once a patient has been diagnosed with piriformis syndrome the next step is treatment. Manual therapies, including soft tissue work and stretching will effectively help treat the muscle and decrease the pain symptoms. Below are a few examples of piriformis stretches. If you are having buttock and leg pain it is best to consult your chiropractor or primary care physician before starting to treat the symptoms yourself as there are much more serious conditions that could be causing the same pain.
Lay on your back and cross one leg over the other.
Wrap your hand around your leg that is not crossed and pull it towards yourself.
Hold for 7-10 seconds and repeat 2-3x.
Wrap your hand around your leg that is not crossed and pull it towards yourself.
Hold for 7-10 seconds and repeat 2-3x.
This is the Yoga pose called Half Pigeon
You start on all fours, then cross one leg over the other.
Slide your non crossed leg back and then lean forward, supporting yourself on you elbows (as seen here) or rest your forehead on the floor.
Hold this pose for 45-60 seconds.
This is a much harder stretch to do and I suggest taking a few yoga classes before trying this one.
You start on all fours, then cross one leg over the other.
Slide your non crossed leg back and then lean forward, supporting yourself on you elbows (as seen here) or rest your forehead on the floor.
Hold this pose for 45-60 seconds.
This is a much harder stretch to do and I suggest taking a few yoga classes before trying this one.
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