What is Piriformis Syndrome?
Pain shooting down one or both legs is something everyone can experience. Maybe a friend has told you about a few stretches for relief. Pain travelling down the leg can be caused by a number of different issues, like injuries to the joints or discs in the lumbar spine, bursitis, or tightness from muscle trigger points. A very common source of this kind of shooting pain is piriformis syndrome.
Piriformis syndrome occurs when the piriformis, a muscle in the hip, tightens and puts pressure on the sciatic nerve. Symptoms may include pain in the low back or hip, pain down the leg, numbness or tingling in the leg, and discomfort while sitting. Piriformis syndrome can be caused by structural differences in our bodies, an injury to the buttock muscles, or overuse and repetitive strain.
Treatment for piriformis syndrome will include a thorough assessment to determine the root of the pain, manual treatments like massage and Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS), as well as targeted stretches and exercises.
If you have pain in your back, hip or leg, call Momentum Physical Therapy & Sports Rehab at 403-982-5600 to see how we can help!
Raina Hawthorne is a physiotherapist at MOMENTUM Physical Therapy & Sports Rehab Ltd. located in Okotoks, AB.