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Piriformis syndrome is a rare musculoskeletal disorder that can cause persistent pain in the buttocks and lower back, including L4-L5, often extending down the leg, followed by numbness and paresthesia. This pain is caused by nerve entrapment (sciatic nerve) beneath the Piriformis muscle. This condition can be uncomfortable, affecting daily activities and overall quality of life.
ANF Therapy®️ offers a breakthrough solution for this type of pain. It’s an innovative, non-invasive therapy that aims to provide rapid relief. ANF Therapy®️ aims to address pain and inflammation that contribute to the discomfort associated with Piriformis syndrome. By addressing the underlying causes of the pain, ANF Therapy®️ aims to alleviate your immediate symptoms and promote long-term healing and recovery.
What is Piriformis Syndrome?
Piriformis syndrome, sometimes called pseudo sciatica, is a rare condition characterised by a spasm of the Piriformis muscle that causes pain in the buttocks and lower back. The pain can extend down to the legs when the muscle pinches the long sciatic nerve.
The piriformis muscle is a flat band-like muscle that is very important in providing movement to your lower body part, helping you walk, and maintaining your body weight and balance. The sciatic nerve is thick and major in your body, situated beneath the Piriformis muscle. This nerve can also be compressed due to a Piriformis spasm, which causes shooting pain down to your leg, followed by numbness and paresthesia.
How common is Piriformis Syndrome?
Piriformis syndrome is not a very common condition, accounting for only 10-17% of chronic back pain cases. It tends to affect women more often than men, with a ratio of 6:1. This higher prevalence in women is due to the broader quadriceps femoris angle in females compared to males.
What are the Causes of Piriformis Syndrome?
Piriformis syndrome is a multifactorial disease. The cause of piriformis syndrome depends upon its type. There are two types of PS.
Primary piriformis syndrome:
Primary piriformis syndrome is rare, constituting only about 15% of all cases. It occurs due to anatomical abnormalities in the piriformis muscle and the sciatic nerve. Such abnormalities can include variations in the muscle’s size, shape, or attachment points, as well as differences in the course or branching of the sciatic nerve.
These structural irregularities can lead to the piriformis muscle compressing or irritating your sciatic nerve, causing shooting pain, numbness, paresthesia and tingling sensation in the buttocks and along the path of the nerve down the leg.
Secondary piriformis syndrome:
Secondary piriformis syndrome is caused by multiple factors other than anatomical abnormalities, including trauma, chronic inflammation, and surgeries. The causes of secondary piriformis syndrome include:
- Chronic or persistent inflammation
- Recurrent muscular spasm
- Tightening of your piriformis muscle
- Scarring of the muscle tissues
- Poor body posture
- Infections such as pyomyositis
- Bleeding in the area of Piriformis syndrome
Overuse of the Piriformis muscle can also cause Piriformis syndrome. It includes
- Climbing stairs
- Lifting heaving objects
- Playing sports like cricket, football and hockey
- Sitting for an extended period
It can also be caused by trauma that includes:
- Fall from height
- Sudden twisting of your hip joint
- Deep penetrating wound
- Car accidents
Who is at Higher Risk of Piriformis Syndrome?
Several factors increase your risk of piriformis syndrome. These include:
Ageing:
As you age, your muscle strength and elasticity decrease, making you more prone to piriformis syndrome. It usually affects people in the middle age group of 30-40.
Occupation:
If you have a job that involves prolonged sitting, lifting heavy objects and repetitive movements, you are at greater risk of having Piriformis syndrome than others.
Gender:
This syndrome affects more women than men due to the broader quadriceps femoris angle. This angle makes them more prone to Piriformis syndrome than males.
Athletes:
If you are an athlete and participate in running, cycling, and other activities that involve your hip joint, you are at a higher risk of getting this disease than others.
Long periods of inactivity:
When you are inactive and do not participate in physical activities, your gluteal muscle becomes weak and less flexible, increasing your risk of piriformis syndrome.
High body mass index (obesity):
Extra weight puts pressure on your muscles and increases your risk of piriformis syndrome.
Previous history of back pain:
If you have a history of lower back pain, then the risk of piriformis syndrome is higher than others.
Surgery:
If you underwent significant surgery, such as total hip replacement, then you are at higher risk of developing this condition.
What are the Symptoms of Piriformis Syndrome?
The symptoms of piriformis syndrome depend upon the severity of the disease. It includes:
- Tenderness in the buttock area
- Sitting difficulty in hard places
- Numbness and paresthesia in the buttocks and along the back of the leg
- Pain that worsens with physical activity
- Weakness and difficulty in moving leg
Management of Piriformis Syndrome with ANF Therapy®️:
The diagnosis of piriformis syndrome is challenging due to its similarity with sciatica. However, ANF Therapists diagnose piriformis syndrome clinically by taking a detailed history, physical examination and neurological examination.
History:
The ANF Therapists will ask about your symptoms, their duration, and any activities that may exacerbate or alleviate your pain. They will also ask about your medical history, previous injuries, and lifestyle factors that might contribute to the condition.
Physical examination:
Palpation:
Your ANF Therapist will palpate your muscles to assess the tension and tenderness of your hip muscles and to locate the painful area precisely. This hands-on approach helps the ANF Therapists to identify any abnormalities in muscle texture and pinpoint the specific regions that need targeted ANF Therapy®️. They will also palpate nerves in that region to differentiate between inflamed and normal nerves.Physical tests:
Your trained ANF Therapists perform some physical tests. These tests include: 1- FAIR test (Flexion, abduction and internal rotation) Your ANF Therapist will ask you to lie on your back and flex your affected leg at the hip and knee joint. Afterwards, they will gently abduct your leg and rotate internally. Pain during this movement indicates piriformis syndrome. 2- Pace’s sign: In this test, your ANF Therapist commands you to bend your knee and foot on the floor and asks you to abduct them (move outward). Pain or movement during this suggests piriformis syndrome. 3- Freigherg’s test: In this test, you must lie on your back with your legs straight. Your ANF Therapist will passively rotate your leg inward. Pain or discomfort in the buttocks area indicates piriformis syndrome. 4- Beatty’s manoeuvre: In this test, you will be asked to lie on your unaffected side and lift your affected leg while the knee is bent at a 90-degree angle. Pain during this position indicates piriformis syndrome. 5-Piriformis stretch test: In this test, Your ANF Therapists ask you to lie on your back, flex your hip and knee joints, and then abduct and internally rotate your knee. Pain during this test indicates piriformis syndrome. 6- Straight leg raising ( SLR): In this test, you have to lie on your back. Your ANF Therapists will uplift your affected leg with the knee straight. Pain radiation towards the legs between 30-70 degrees of angle indicates sciatic nerve involvement due to Piriformis syndrome.Neurological examination:
Your Neuro ANF Othropedic Therapist will do your neurological examination to check the involvement of the sciatic nerve. It includes:
- Reflex testing (Achilles tendon reflex, patellar tendon reflex)
- Muscle strength testing
- Sensory examination
Application of ANF Devices:
Expected outcome:
Your ANF Orthopedic practitioner will apply anti-inflammatory devices with positive and negative charges. The positively charged ANF Devices are applied on attachment close to the hip joint, and the negatively charged devices are applied close to the centre of the piriformis muscle. Anti-inflammatory Devices work by removing inflammation from your body and alleviating pain.
Antioxidant devices are also applied along with anti-inflammatory devices. Antioxidant Devices work by removing harmful free radicals and helping reduce inflammation.
Antistress devices are also applied to remove stress from your body and allow your muscles to heal properly.
Follow-up:
Regular follow-ups are essential to treat piriformis syndrome by using ANF Devices. Your ANF Therapist will guide you on the number of follow-up sessions and treatment duration. You will need to change ANF Devices after 72 hours. Your therapist will create a personalised treatment plan for you and educate you on changes and training exercises.
Start your Journey with ANF Therapy®️:
ANF Therapy®️ offers an innovative tool for managing pain caused by piriformis syndrome. By utilising wearable ANF Devices that emit neurological frequencies, ANF Therapy®️ aims to modulate inflammatory responses, promote healing, and support overall well-being related to health. This non-pharmacological therapy provides a safe and effective approach that improves disease outcomes by targeting the root cause. If you’re suffering from Piriformis syndrome, consult an ANF Practitioner or find an ANF Therapist at www.findanf.com to start your treatment with ANF Therapy®️ today!
If you’re a healthcare practitioner aiming to enhance your clinical skills with ANF Therapy®️, learn more about the ANF Clinical education program by visiting www.anfacademy.com.
How to Prevent Piriformis Syndrome?
You can prevent piriformis syndrome by following activities:
- Keep taking exercise regularly to improve your muscle health
- Good body posture
- Avoid lifting heavy objects
- Warm up before the physical activity
- Avoid prolonged sitting activities and take frequent breaks
- Avoid frequent use of stairs
What are the Differentials of Piriformis Syndrome?
Several conditions are associated with piriformis syndrome. Therefore, before diagnosing it, rule out this condition.
- Herniation of intervertebral discs
- Thrombotic iliac vein
- Posterior facet syndrome (L4-S1)
- Degenerative disc diseases
- Tumors or cysts
- Lumbar osteochondritis
- Trochanteric bursitis
- Pelvic bone fracture
- Sacroiliac joint syndrome
- Renal stones
- Lumbar spine osteoarthritis
- Lumbar stenosis
- Sacroiliitis
What Happens if Piriformis Syndrome is Left Untreated (a complication of Piriformis Syndrome)?
It can cause several complications if left untreated. The most common complication is continuous pain.
- Chronic pain
- Sciatica
- Muscle weakness
- Compromised quality of life
- Reduce range of motion
- Alteration of gate
FAQs:
How do we differentiate Piriformis syndrome and sciatica (Piriformis syndrome vs sciatica)?
Piriformis syndrome is a neuromuscular disorder where spasms in your piriformis muscle cause pain that starts from the buttocks and radiates down your legs. This happens because the piriformis muscle compresses a part of your sciatic nerve, producing symptoms in the affected area. In contrast, sciatica doesn’t involve the piriformis muscle. Instead, it’s caused by spinal stenosis or a herniated disc, leading to severe pain in the lower back that radiates down the leg.
What does Piriformis syndrome feel like?
Piriformis syndrome is described as tenderness in the buttocks area, followed by sciatica-like pain that radiates down the leg. This pain can be sharp, burning, or aching and often worsens with sitting, walking, or climbing stairs.
Can Piriformis syndrome paralyse you?
Piriformis syndrome can cause significant nerve compression in long-standing or severe cases, leading to weakness or even paralysis of the muscles that control foot and ankle movement.
Can I walk with Piriformis syndrome?
Yes, you can take short walks if you have Piriformis syndrome. Rest is advised in severe cases with significant pain. However, it’s best to avoid long periods of sitting, walking, and running to prevent aggravating the condition.
What worsens Piriformis syndrome?
Some activities worsen Piriformis syndrome. These include:
- Lifting heavy object
- Walking and running
- Climbing up the stairs
- Long periods of sitting
Can ANF Therapy®️ Treat Piriformis Syndrome?
Patients often experience symptom relief within a few minutes of applying the ANF Devices. The therapy works by emitting specific neurological frequencies that aim to reduce inflammation and target the underlying causes of pain by activating the body’s natural healing response.
About ANF Therapy®️
ANF Therapy®️ uses circular ANF Devices, which are applied directly on the skin after palpation and assessment by a trained ANF Therapist following the ANF Therapy®️ Method, Patented Model no. U202030252, ES1259974.
The ANF Therapy®️ purpose is the alleviation of injury and pain within minutes.
Our aim is that the patient experiences a reduction of pain and swelling, an increase in range of motion, and an improvement in quality of life related to health. Non-transdermal, non-invasive device, NO needles or chemicals are used.
Do you need help with your health issues? Have you been experiencing symptoms of Piriformis Syndrome?
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