Michael BoveePiriformis Syndrome is a painful irritation of the sciatic nerves caused by the contraction of the superficial piriformis muscles.
The superficial piriformis muscles: Starts at the bottom of your thigh and extends along the thigh’s side to connect to each femur (foot) which acts to help in turning the foot and hip outward and rotation. When this happens the tendon becomes irritated. Piriformis Syndrome occurs when the tendon becomes inflamed or spasms causing discomfort, weakness and numbness to the affected leg. This pain can also be located on the outside of your leg.
It is best to seek immediate medical attention for sciatica pain as the more advanced the injury is, the more serious it will be. Piriformis Syndrome is caused when the piriformis tendon becomes swollen or inflamed. Inflamed or injured Pirformis tendons may cause pain in the leg, ankle, buttocks and groin.
As Pirformis Syndrome is the inflammation of the Pirformis tendon, many people think that muscle exercises can relieve the pain and stiffness. However, this is not always the case. Muscle exercises do not get to the tendon because of the tightness in the muscle.
However, there are stretches and exercises that you can perform that will work to loosen up the muscles and relieve the discomfort caused by Pirformis Syndrome.
It is important to understand that Pirformis Syndrome is a condition that is not caused by improper mechanics of the muscle and is not the result of over training or poor technique. A more common explanation is that the muscle becomes spasmodic because of an overworked Pirformis tendon, this can be caused by age, poor form, or injury.
If your Pirformis has become tense, tight or inflamed, then it is time to look for a qualified Pirformis Physiotherapist. Your Physiotherapist will help determine the cause of this and what type of exercise is recommended to treat the problem. For example, if you have injured a shoulder, then you may not be able to perform a seated row because of pain, thus you may want to consult your Physiotherapist. for a strength training program to strengthen and stretch the piriformis tendon. You may want to avoid doing exercise that would cause strain on the piriformis tendon because this will only cause pain and inflammation.
The Pirformis can become tight due to gravity, weight or aging. This can be a good thing because the muscle becomes less spastic. As it becomes less spasmodic the piriformis tendon will be less susceptible to strain and will therefore not become more susceptible to injury.
This makes the muscles become less flexible. If the Pirformis gets less flexible, it will start to stiffen and this will cause further pain and discomfort.
An exercise called a Pirformis Strengthening Program is an exercise that can help to lengthen the Pirformis muscles. As the Pirformis becomes longer, stronger and more flexible, it will become less likely to contract and become inflamed. This exercise will also help to improve flexibility in other muscles such as the calf and gluteus muscles, as well as strengthen your core abdominal and lower back muscles.
Pirformis stretches are very important and can be done on your own at home or with a professional. Some of these stretches include the piriformis stretches and exercises. These stretches should be done several times a day and not just before a workout or after. The Pirformis stretches can also be done several times a day, especially if you are having pain and/or discomfort with your Pirformis. In addition, strengthening your Pirformis through exercises, stretches and the Pirformis Strengthening Program can prevent the problem from occurring in the first place.