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Piriformis Injuries

Piriformis injuries, also known as piriformis syndrome, cause pain felt in the hip area, in the center of the butt area or down the back of the leg. The piriformis muscle is a small muscle deep inside the buttocks. This muscle runs from the base of the spine to the thigh bone and helps rotate the leg outwards. The piriformis muscle can become tightened and put pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing pain and inflammation.

  1. Causes

    • Piriformis injuries can be caused by sports such as running. Running on hard surfaces such as concrete, on uneven ground, and wearing ill-fitting shoes can contribute to injury of the piriformis muscle. Sitting for prolonged periods can also stiffen and shorten the muscle, resulting in pain. Other causes may include poor posture, herniated discs and walking with toes pointed out.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of piriformis injuries may include a dull ache or throb deep in the hip or buttock region and at times from the lower back down the back of the leg. Tingling and numbness may also be experienced along with restricted movement in the painful area.

    Treatment

    • Piriformis injuries need time to recover. The muscle will need to relax to allow blood to flow to the injury and start the healing process. Medical massage will encourage blood flow to the affected muscle. Ice applications for 15 to 20 minutes several times a day will reduce inflammation. Heat applications may help reduce stiffness. Over-the-counter medications such as Advil or Motrin can reduce pain. Corticosteroid injections in the painful area reduces pain and inflammation quickly. Once acute pain is gone, gentle stretching of the piriformis muscle may help strengthen and provide flexibility to the muscle area.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Do a complete warmup routine before performing any sports or exercise activities. Stretching and warming up allows muscles to be flexible and gets fresh blood flow to the region. Allow a day of rest between sports activities so muscles can fully recover.

    Considerations

    • Proper running shoes may help reduce risk of injury to the piriformis muscle. Take breaks often when sitting for prolonged periods. Keep muscles stretched and flexible to keep from injury. Your doctor will provide you with stretching and exercise routines to help avoid injury and keep your muscles flexible and strong.

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