Piriformis syndrome
The piriformis muscle and
the sciatic nerve
The piriformis muscle is a small muscle located in the buttocks that rotates
the hip. It runs horizontally, and the sciatic nerve runs vertically directly
beneath the muscle. The muscle can become tight and place pressure on the sciatic
nerve, resulting in leg pain which may be difficult to distinguish from a radiculopathy
(nerve pinching in the spine), which is also commonly called sciatica.
The patient’s spinal imaging studies will not show any nerve pinching,
and on physical exam, motion of the patient's hip will generate the pain.
Conservative care for piriformis syndrome
Treatment for piriformis syndrome typically consists of:
-
Physical therapy that includes manual release
(deep massage), along with hip range of motion
exercises can help piriformis sydrome.
-
For
severe cases of piriformis sydrome, the muscle
may be injected with lidocaine to decrease
spasm and help the patient make progress
in physical therapy.
By: Peter
F. Ullrich, Jr., MD
September 8, 1999
Updated February 28, 2001
|
|
