The piriformis muscle is the largest and most important of the rotator hip muscles found in the body. Located between the middle of the buttocks and the sacrum, the piriformis muscle functions by rotating the leg and foot outward. A major issue among athletes and the general public is that the sciatic nerve runs under or through the piriformis muscle.
Overworking or everyday stress on the body can cause the piriformis muscle to tighten, leading to irritation, swelling, and ultimately pinching of the sciatic nerve, known as piriformis syndrome. Once you have piriformis syndrome, you experience pain in the buttocks that travels down the leg of the affected piriformis muscle. Releasing the piriformis muscle through treatments and exercise, such as chiropractic care and physical therapy, is essential for relieving the compressed sciatic nerve.
Chiropractic care and physical therapy can relieve a tight piriformis muscle through massage and manipulation of the body. Stretching is also a good way to relieve the symptoms of piriformis syndrome. Lying on your back, bend the knee of the side where you need to release the muscle and bring it across your body, pointing the knee towards the opposite shoulder. Once you’ve done this, move the bent knee back to its starting position and placing your hands under the bent knee, bring it to your chest. This simple stretch will stretch your buttock region and stretch your piriformis. Consistency is key to achieving relief from an injury and consistent treatment followed by stretches and exercise can greatly help with your piriformis muscle pain.
Post Disclaimer
Professional Scope of Practice *
The information herein on "Pain in the Piriformis Muscle" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.
Blog Information & Scope Discussions
Welcome to El Paso's Wellness blog, where Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, FNP-C, a board-certified Family Practice Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C) and Chiropractor (DC), presents insights on how our team is dedicated to holistic healing and personalized care. Our practice aligns with evidence-based treatment protocols inspired by integrative medicine principles, similar to those found on dralexjimenez.com, focusing on restoring health naturally for patients of all ages.
Our areas of chiropractic practice include Wellness & Nutrition, Chronic Pain, Personal Injury, Auto Accident Care, Work Injuries, Back Injury, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Migraine Headaches, Sports Injuries, Severe Sciatica, Scoliosis, Complex Herniated Discs, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, Complex Injuries, Stress Management, Functional Medicine Treatments, and in-scope care protocols.
Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicine, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somato-visceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.
We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research studies or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.
We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how they may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to discuss the subject matter above further, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.
We are here to help you and your family.
Blessings
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, APRN, FNP-BC*, CCST, IFMCP, CFMP, ATN
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807
New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182
Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Texas & Multistate
Texas RN License # 1191402
ANCC FNP-BC: Board Certified Nurse Practitioner*
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Graduate with Honors: ICHS: MSN-FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)
Degree Granted. Master's in Family Practice MSN Diploma (Cum Laude)
Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC*, CFMP, IFMCP, ATN, CCST
My Digital Business Card
