| In my San Antonio, Texas based Massage | | | | also use Myofascial Release techniques or Deep |
| Therapy and Bodywork practice I often treat pain | | | | Tissue Massage techniques to release adhesions |
| from various syndromes including Piriformis | | | | between the piriformis muscle and surrounding |
| Syndrome. Like many painful conditions Piriformis | | | | tissues while also using Muscle Energy Techniques |
| Syndrome responds quite well to massage | | | | to gently lengthen the piriformis muscle. Piriformis |
| therapy and bodywork. | | | | Syndrome also responds well to positional release |
| What is Piriformis Syndrome? | | | | therapies such as Ortho-Bionomy which work with |
| Piriformis Syndrome is the name of a painful | | | | the body's nervous system to release muscles |
| nerve entrapment condition in which the sciatic | | | | and improve joint movement in the area. In |
| nerve is placed under abnormal pressure by the | | | | addition to working on the piriformis muscle it |
| piriformis muscle. The piriformis muscle attaches | | | | may be necessary to provide therapy for other |
| to the sacrum bone of the low back to the top | | | | muscles near piriformis and even to muscles |
| of greater trochanter of the femur (thigh bone) | | | | opposing piriformis to improve muscular balance. |
| and lies on top of the sciatic nerve. When the | | | | Comprehensive treatment with massage and |
| piriformis muscle becomes tight and enlarged, pain | | | | bodywork, in conjunction with a home program of |
| results from myofascial trigger points (knots) in | | | | stretching and exercise, usually helps to |
| the muscle, pressure on the sciatic nerve, and | | | | completely resolve Piriformis Syndrome. |
| sometimes from the S-I Joint in the low back. | | | | Other Treatments for Piriformis Syndrome |
| Pain from Piriformis Syndrome is usually found in | | | | While massage therapy and bodywork are an |
| the extreme low back, buttocks, hip, and often | | | | excellent treatment for Piriformis Syndrome there |
| the back of the thigh. Most of the time the | | | | are other treatments you should discuss with |
| symptoms are on one side, but may affect both | | | | your physician: |
| sides in some cases. Additionally, people with | | | | Anti-inflammatory medications |
| Piriformis Syndrome often have trouble sitting for | | | | Anesthetic and Steroid Injections |
| long periods and the pain may worsen when | | | | Surgery |
| walking or squatting. | | | | Other Names for Piriformis Syndrome |
| What is the cause of Piriformis Syndrome? | | | | Pseudosciatica |
| There are a number of causes for Piriformis | | | | Back Pocket Sciatica |
| Syndrome including direct blunt trauma to the | | | | Deep Gluteal Syndrome |
| buttocks, prolonged sitting while working or | | | | Hip Socket Neuropathy |
| driving, Morton's foot, or S-I Joint instability. | | | | The information on this page has been provided |
| Frequent or prolonged running on canted surfaces | | | | for information purposes only. It is not meant to |
| and participation in sports requiring quick lateral | | | | provide a medical diagnosis, only a licensed |
| movement such as tennis, skiing, and basketball | | | | physician may diagnose Piriformis Syndrome. If |
| may also overstress the piriformis muscle and | | | | you feel that you have the symptoms of |
| lead to Piriformis Syndrome. | | | | Piriformis Syndrome please see your physician for |
| Massage Therapy and Bodywork for Piriformis | | | | a proper diagnosis and plan of treatment which |
| Syndrome | | | | may include massage therapy and bodywork. |
| There are many ways that massage therapy and | | | | There are a number of more serious conditions |
| bodywork can be used to treat Piriformis | | | | that resemble Piriformis Syndrome that could |
| Syndrome. The massage therapist will employ a | | | | require immediate medical attention. |
| number of techniques to relieve the condition. For | | | | If, after consulting your physician, you would like |
| example the massage therapist may use | | | | to pursue treatment of Piriformis Syndrome with |
| Neuromuscular Therapy or Trigger Point Therapy | | | | Massage Therapy and Bodywork please contact |
| to eliminate myofascial trigger points in the | | | | me at my San Antonio Massage and Bodywork |
| piriformis muscle. The massage therapist could | | | | practice or contact a Massage Therapist near you. |