When the Piriformis muscle is knotted or inflamed it might put pressure on nerve roots in the lower back, often called the ‘sciatic nerve’. As this occurs it is possible for it to result in a severely painful condition known as Piriformis Syndrome. Piriformis Syndrome is often misdiagnosed as another condition, and is often caused by either over-use or under-use of the muscle, straining the muscle, inflammation of the muscle, trigger points (muscle knots), or weakness due to imbalanced muscle groups.
Piriformis Syndrome is oftentimes overlooked and diagnosed as ‘sciatica’ because of the fact that it sometimes will cause the numbing and prickling sensation in the legs that is frequently connected with sciatica. It’s tough to diagnose Piriformis Syndrome properly, but it is the major possibility if there is sciatic nerve pain without any damage to discs or the spine.
This dreadful condition may also be caused through dormant gluteal muscles, specifically the gluteus minimus and the gluteus medius. The gluteal muscles are used to rotate the leg and protract the hip. Short hip flexors are one of the reasons for underused gluteal muscles, which is usually caused by too much sitting. This makes the piriformis and hamstring muscles work more than they are designed to, that may lead to an over-worked piriformis muscle.
If Piriformis Syndrome is being caused by weak or tight muscle groups, a great method of treatment is to stretch the muscles that are tight, and build the muscles that are frail. This is regularly labeled muscle balance therapy. A properly planned exercise routine targeting muscle groups in the precise way can cut or extinguish the symptoms and painfulness of Piriformis Syndrome.
One more common reason for Piriformis Syndrome is trigger points, also described as muscle knots. Getting to these trigger points can be tricky, but once you have discovered a trigger point it is oftentimes quite simple to dissolve. Trigger points may be broken up by using medium-hard pressure on the contracting muscle fibers that are holding the ‘knot’. Though, this may feel extremely painful to do, but it repeatedly only needs about 30 seconds of applied pressure before the trigger points break up and go away.
A good way to reduce the pain of Piriformis Syndrome is to learn to stretch the piriformis muscle. Which helps reduce the pressure being placed on the nerves.