The Piri-what? The Piriformis is a deep hip-buttock muscle running between the sacrum at the base of your spine and the bony part of your hip. (Greater trochanter of the femur)

What does it do?

The Piriformis muscle helps move the leg away from the body (abduction) and turns the thigh outwards (external rotation) “while balancing on the left foot, move the right leg directly sideways away from the body and rotate the right leg so that the toes point towards the ceiling. This is the action of the right Piriformis muscle.”

What happens?

Acute or chronic injury of the Piriformis causes inflammation and swelling which irritates the sciatic nerve resulting in sciatica. This is also known as Piriformis Syndrome.

Symptoms include pain deep in the buttock, and pain radiating down the back of the thigh.

What can cause this?

Running particularly hills, extensive walking and bushwalking, cycling, prolonged sitting and trauma are all causes of Piriformis syndrome.

Women are more often affected than men and in 15% of people the sciatic nerve actually runs through the Piriformis either partially or fully, making them particularly predisposed.

How can Good Massage help?

A good deep tissue massage of the Piriformis and overlying muscles of the buttock along with targeted stretching can relax the muscle and relieve irritation to the sciatic nerve. If you have deep pain in the hip or buttocks, pain or even odd sensation anywhere along the sciatic nerve i.e. back of the thigh, calves or foot, then the

Piriformis may well be responsible and a good deep tissue massage could provide the relief you need.

Feel free to phone and discuss your condition and arrange an assessment with me or be referred on to another professional if necessary.