Introduction
Piriformis syndrome is named after the piriformis muscle, which is located in the gluteal area under the large gluteal muscles and connects the sacrum with the thighbones. Directly under the piriformis muscle runs the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the human body, which supplies all important leg structures. For the treatment of this disease, conservative methods are particularly suitable, such as physiotherapy specifically for piriformis syndrome.
Causes of Piriformis Syndrome
If the piriformis muscle becomes inflamed or shortened due to overstrain, for example excessive walking, or unfavorable sitting positions, for example sitting on a full purse for a long time, the piriformis muscle can push off the sciatic nerve and thus irritate it, resulting in a characteristic stabbing pain in the area of the rear buttocks. In about 20 percent of the population, the sciatic nerve does not run under the piriformis muscle but through it. It is currently believed that this anatomical position is associated with an increased risk of developing symptoms of piriformis syndrome.
Piriformis syndrome is particularly common in athletes who perform a constantly repetitive forward motion, such as long-distance runners or cyclists. As a result, the piriformis muscle shortens and contracts more strongly. This change in size makes compression of the sciatic nerve more and more likely.
This occurs more frequently when athletes do not perform stretching or extension exercises that involve a different movement profile than just the steady forward and backward movement of the legs. If you are sensitive to Piriformis Syndrome, it is recommended that you perform frequent stretching exercises between long monotonous loads, especially stretching your legs outwards, in order to apply equal load to all muscles of the hip area during training and at the same time relieve the piriformis muscle in the short term and counteract long-term irritation. In Piriformis Syndrome, the piriformis muscle exerts pressure on the sciatic nerve, which can cause pain and loss of sensation.
Sport can contribute to the development of Piriformis Syndrome in different ways. For example, a trauma in the gluteal region can lead to a sudden application of force to the piriformis muscle, causing the symptoms. Also, violent sudden movements during exercise can trigger Piriformis Syndrome.
This often happens when you perform an unusual movement for the first time. Permanent incorrect strain during sports can also cause Piriformis Syndrome. Jogging is a typical risk factor for Piriformis Syndrome.
Various mechanisms play a role in the development of the symptoms. In particular, incorrect posture and excessive strain during jogging can trigger Piriformis Syndrome. A slight incorrect posture, for example, affects the piriformis muscle with every step.
The longer the running distance and the more intensive the training, the more intensively the individual steps affect the muscle. Especially when you start jogging again after a longer break from training or suddenly increase the training intensity, the body is not used to the strain. The piriformis muscle reacts quickly irritated and the sciatic nerve is compressed.
Sudden movements while jogging, for example when stepping unfavorably on a root or into a pothole, can also be the cause of Piriformis Syndrome. A slipped disc can cause the same symptoms as Piriformis Syndrome. Both piriformis syndrome and herniated discs cause the sciatic nerve to become trapped.
The only difference between the two diseases is the location of the incarceration (in the case of a herniated disc directly on the spine, in the case of piriformis syndrome only in the course of the sciatic nerve). This usually results in pain in the buttocks or even in the legs. In addition, sensory disturbances such as numbness or tingling in the legs can occur.
A differentiation of the diseases is only possible through more detailed physical examinations. A sciatica irritation can be caused by various factors. Such an irritation can occur in the area of the piriformis muscle, for example, and thus lead to the piriformis syndrome.
It comes to strong pain in the buttock region. Usually an irritation of the sciatica is the result of muscle tension. However, the irritation can also occur first and have a significant impact on the function of the piriformis muscle.The irritation of the sciatica and muscular dysfunction have a negative influence on each other, which makes the complaints particularly persistent.
